Divya Nimmagadda is a student at Harvard Law School.
In the post-transition flood of executive orders and actions, one effort in particular takes special aim at diversity and inclusion measures with the federal workforce.
As part of a larger executive action and order aimed at dismantling DEI programming, President Trump rolled back the Equal Employment Act of 1965. The Act, in the form of an executive order (Executive Order 11246), was originally put in place by President Johnson in the midst of the Civil Rights Movement and the year after the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1974. It instituted affirmative action programming within the federal workplace and “prohibit[ed] federal contractors from discriminating on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.” Within the same action, Trump revoked another 2011 executive order that “Establish[ed] a Coordinated Government-wide Initiative to Promote Diversity and Inclusion in the Federal Workforce” and, in a forward-looking measure, is requiring the head of each agency to include in any government contract or grant “[a] term requiring such counterparty or recipient to certify that it does not operate any programs promoting DEI that violate any applicable Federal anti-discrimination laws.” Based on Trump’s directive, the Office of Personnel Management issued a memo ordering all DEI employees to be placed on administrative leave by Wednesday of next week.
We are already beginning to see the effects of the administration’s effort to limit the federal DEI infrastructure. A CIA spokesperson stated that the agency had gotten rid of its office for diversity and inclusion. The Agriculture, Treasury and Labor Departments had each taken down some webpages on diversity measures by yesterday morning.
Relatedly, yesterday, the administration sent out a message to federal employees warning them that they may face “adverse consequences” if they attempted to hide efforts by fellow colleagues or supervisors to defy the above order to end all DEI programs. Employees were given ten days to report such efforts to “disguise these programs by using coded or imprecise language.”
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April 1
In today’s news and commentary, Aramark workers at Philly stadiums reach tentative agreement, Crystal Carey is poised to take general counsel at NLRB, President Trump’s nominees for key DOL positions, and the National Treasury Employees Union sues the Trump administration. UNITE HERE Local 274, which represents thousands of food service workers in the Philadelphia region, […]
March 31
Trump signs executive order; Appeals court rules on NLRB firing; Farmworker activist detained by ICE.
March 28
In today’s news and commentary, Wyoming bans non-compete agreements, rideshare drivers demonstrate to recoup stolen wages, and Hollywood trade group names a new president. Starting July 1, employers will no longer be able to force Wyoming employees to sign non-compete agreements. A bill banning the practice passed the Wyoming legislature this past session, with legislators […]
March 27
Florida legislature proposes deregulation of child labor laws, Trump administration cuts international programs that target child labor and human trafficking, and California Federal judge reversed course and ruled that unions representing federal employees can sue the Trump administration over mass firings.
March 25
Illinois warehouse quota bill vetoed; Minnesota residents organize; circuit split on NLRB deference continues
March 23
Mahmoud Khalil and labor; CA Fast Food Council's slow start; debating worker-to-worker organizing