On January 22, 2025, just two days after taking office, President Donald Trump revoked the 1965 Equal Employment Opportunity Act, a landmark law designed to protect marginalized groups in the workplace. Trump’s executive order specifically targets diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, halting government DEI employee activities and discouraging private companies with government contracts from prioritizing marginalized hires.

Critics argue that this move undermines progress on systemic inequality, with political strategist Basil Smikle Jr. condemning the implication that DEI efforts suggest women and people of color lack merit. While the order preserves employment preferences for military veterans, the broader shift away from government-led diversity initiatives has sparked significant backlash, reflecting Trump’s broader agenda to reduce government involvement in such policies.