president donald trump It was another blow to equity and inclusion under his administration, undoing the cornerstone of civil rights policy that has shaped federal employment and contracting for nearly 60 years. On Wednesday, with a single stroke of the pen, President Trump repealed his first order, Executive Order 11246. Published by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965 Combat workplace discrimination and promote affirmative action.
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The new order removes requirements for federal contractors to implement affirmative action policies and ensure the workforce reflects the nation’s diversity. It also prohibits consideration of diversity, equity, and inclusion factors in federal hiring practices, and instead focuses on what the government values.make a call A “result-based” system. The White House touted the move as a civil rights victory and claimed it would restore “color-blind equality,” but for diversity advocates it represents a devastating setback from decades of progress.
Related: Trump administration removes references to LGBTQ+ and HIV resources from government websites
Prime Minister Johnson’s 1965 order was a response to systemic discrimination, requiring federal contractors and subcontractors to proactively prevent bias in the workplace.
The original text of Executive Order 11246 was clear in its purpose.
“The Contractor will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin,” the order states. Contractors were also required to “take affirmative steps to ensure that applicants are hired and that employees are treated without prejudice during their employment.” Employers were required to post a notice in a visible place to inform workers of their rights and compliance obligations under the order.
This language mandated non-discrimination and called for affirmative action to address systemic inequalities. Employers are held accountable through compliance reports and can face serious consequences, including termination, if they fail to comply with these standards.
Related: President Trump’s Project 2025, White House orders mass layoffs of DEI employees across the federal government
Over time, protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity have expanded and strengthened their role as pillars of workplace fairness. Despite President Trump’s order, one key protection remains in place. of the United States Supreme Court 2020 decisions Bostock v. Clayton County. In this landmark case, the court ruled that discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity is a form of sex discrimination prohibited by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It ruled that discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity is a form of sex discrimination, regardless of changes in Executive Order 11246. It remains illegal under federal law for an employer to fire, refuse to hire, or otherwise discriminate against someone for: LGBTQ+.
Trump too Directed federal agencies to lay off DEI-related jobs and eliminate programs designed to address inequality. DEI staff are on administrative leave and are expected to be laid off by the end of the month. He imposed a hiring freeze on most federal agencies, directing agencies to withdraw pending job openings and remove job listings that include DEI-related language. Exceptions are made for national security, public safety, and immigration positions. Acting Director of Human Resources Management Charles Ezell has directed agencies to finalize reduction plans for DEI employees by the end of the month.
Related: Donald Trump administration declares transgender and non-binary people do not exist
Changes go beyond hiring practices. Within hours of taking the oath of office, President Trump issued an executive order entitled “Protecting Women from Gender Ideological Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government.” eliminate federal recognition oftransgender andnon-binary identity. The order requires government-issued documents, including passports and social security records, to reflect the gender assigned at birth. Schools, shelters, and other federally funded facilities are no longer required to admit transgender people. Prisons are currently directed to house transgender inmates based on the gender they were assigned at birth, regardless of safety concerns.
Contains federal government websites white house gob Officials from the Department of Labor and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also removed references to: LGBTQ+ Identity and HIV-Related resources. Pages promoting labor rights protection for LGBTQ+ employees; pride month Acknowledgments and commitment to HIV prevention have been completely removed. The administration defends these actions as part of a broader effort to eliminate what it calls “extreme ideology” from federal policy.
Source: Advocate.com – www.advocate.com
