Text Link
Civil Rights
Text Link
Education
No items found.
No items found.
Civil Rights
Education
No items found.
Tracker

Response Center

Real-time analysis of Trump-Vance administration actions, to support legal challenges and provide resources for the pro-democracy community.

Back to the Response Center

The Trump-Vance Administration is trying to

Further undermine diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in the public and private sectors

Let others know:

https://democracy2025.org/response-center/PYJOoT

What we know

This order is another attack on diversity, equity, & inclusion initiatives in the federal government and a new attack on similar initiatives in private business & public education.

Formal Name

Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity

Status
Underway
Formal Identifier

TBD

January 21, 2025

Anticipated Impact

This is another anti-equity order from the Trump administration and goes further in several respects. It incorrectly claims that diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility initiatives in the federal government, the private sector, and public education violate civil rights laws. It revokes several longstanding executive orders intended to address discrimination within the federal government, including one dating back to 1965, and it requires all federal contractors and grant recipients to certify that they do not operate any programs promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion that violate any applicable federal anti-discrimination laws. In the private sector, the order directs the Attorney General to submit a report outlining a plan for misusing civil rights laws against companies that have equity initiatives, and it requires agencies to identify specific large companies, nonprofits, foundations, and associations for civil compliance investigations. The order also directs the Attorney General to work with the Secretary of Education to issue joint guidance to state and local educational agencies and higher education institutions on how to comply with federal funding requirements in light of the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision to hold two universities’ race-conscious admissions programs unconstitutional.

By the Numbers

Partner Analysis

People are fighting back

How communities are responding

Democracy 2025 and our partners are ready to counter threats to people's rights, justice, and equality in courtrooms and communities across the country. Learn more about how people and communities are responding to this harmful policy:

Responses not found.

Join the Fight for Democracy

Help us counter unlawful, anti-democratic actions from the Trump-Vance administration and protect people, freedom, and justice.

An illustration of three people, two women and one man, shown in profile and facing left. Each wears glasses, and two wear caps, giving a casual appearance. The background includes red, white, and blue abstract patterns with stars.