WASHINGTON, DC — President Donald Trump issued an executive order on Monday to eliminate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) offices and initiatives across the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regarding the United States Coast Guard. The move aims to restore merit-based policies and ban race- and sex-based preferences within the Armed Forces.
The “Restoring America’s Fighting Force” executive order directs the abolishment of DEI offices and mandates an internal review of race- or sex-based practices promoted under prior policies. Trump’s administration argued that DEI initiatives undermine meritocracy, erode unit cohesion, and promote “divisive concepts” that weaken military readiness and force lethality.
“No individual or group within our Armed Forces should be preferred or disadvantaged on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, color, or creed,” the order states, emphasizing a commitment to eliminating discrimination in military hiring and promotion practices.
The order also prohibits the Armed Forces and military educational institutions from advancing teachings that describe America’s founding documents as racist or sexist or that promote “gender ideology” and other concepts deemed divisive by the administration. The order further requires a review of the leadership and curricula of military academies to ensure alignment with the directive.
The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security have been tasked with issuing implementation guidance within 30 days and providing progress reports within 180 days.