Just two days after taking office, President Donald Trump revoked the 1965 Equal Employment Opportunity Act. This law was designed to promote job opportunities and protect against discrimination for women, ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ individuals, and other underrepresented groups.
Trump has pressured the private sector to move away from diversity programs and ordered that government #DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) employees be put on paid leave. His administration claims that these diversity practices are “illegal DEI discrimination and preferences.”
The order also instructs government agencies to investigate private companies that may be engaging in these practices. However, it’s unclear how these investigations will be enforced.
Critics, like political strategist Basil Smikle Jr., argue that Trump’s actions undermine the achievements of women and people of color, suggesting it could lead to increased favoritism and weaken their political and economic power.
