OAKLAND, Calif. — Attorneys general from 13 states issued a joint statement Friday criticizing President Donald Trump’s executive orders aimed at dismantling diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) programs, calling the move “unnecessary and disingenuous.”
Led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, the statement argues that DEIA policies promote fairness in workplaces and educational institutions, ensuring equal opportunities for all individuals. The attorneys general contend that these programs align with federal and state anti-discrimination laws and have been supported by both Democratic and Republican administrations.
“President Trump’s attack on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility initiatives undermines a simple and unassailable goal: to create fairer workplaces and opportunities for all to succeed,” the statement read. “His baseless and offensive claims that these initiatives somehow contributed to the tragic plane crash this week are an insult to those who are grieving and the individuals serving in the military and air traffic control.”
The attorneys general rejected Trump’s characterization of DEIA programs, stating that such initiatives do not lower standards or promote race- or sex-based hiring preferences but instead ensure equal access to opportunities and prevent discrimination.
The coalition vowed to continue enforcing civil rights protections at the state level and to oppose what they described as the administration’s misleading narrative surrounding diversity initiatives.