On January 21, 2025, President Donald Trump issued several executive orders (EOs) eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs within the federal government. One of those orders, “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity,” outlines the significant policy change:
It is the policy of the United States to protect the civil rights of all Americans and to promote individual initiative, excellence, and hard work. I therefore order all executive departments and agencies (agencies) to terminate all discriminatory and illegal preferences, mandates, policies, programs, activities, guidance, regulations, enforcement actions, consent orders, and requirements. I further order all agencies to enforce our longstanding civil-rights laws and to combat illegal private-sector DEI preferences, mandates, policies, programs, and activities. (emphasis added)
Trump’s EO requires every federal contractor to certify that “it does not operate any programs promoting DEI that violate any applicable Federal anti-discrimination laws.”
This set of frequently asked questions is intended to help employers and federal contractors evaluate and navigate this EO.
