WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order on Monday directing federal agencies to terminate all diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI), and environmental justice programs, citing concerns over alleged discrimination and waste in federal operations.
The order, titled “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing,” dismantles initiatives established under the Biden administration’s Executive Order 13985, which had required federal agencies to advance racial equity and underserved community support. It mandates the elimination of DEI offices, roles such as “Chief Diversity Officers,” equity action plans, and DEI-related training for federal employees.
“Americans deserve a government committed to serving every person with equal dignity and respect,” the executive order states, calling for federal employment practices to prioritize individual merit, performance, and constitutional values over equity-based considerations. Agencies have been given 60 days to terminate programs, submit detailed reports of DEI-related spending, and recommend policy changes to align with the order.
Federal contractors and grantees who facilitated DEI programs are also under review. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB), along with other federal agencies, is tasked with tracking agency compliance and assessing the operational impact of the policies being dismantled.