Among the flurry of executive orders President Donald Trump signed on Monday and Tuesday was one that aims to end diversity, equity and inclusion programs within the federal government. "We will forge a society that is colorblind and merit-based," Mr. Trump said in his inauguration speech on Monday.
The White House took the added step of sending a memo to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management Tuesday evening called for all federal DEI employees to be placed on leave by Wednesday evening.
Tuesday's order also goes beyond just federal agencies, and directs the attorney general within 120 days to submit "recommendations for enforcing Federal civil-rights laws and taking other appropriate measures to encourage the private sector to end illegal discrimination and preferences, including DEI."
Mr. Trump is also directing the attorney general to create a plan to deter the private sector from adopting or continuing DEI programs.
"As a part of this plan, each agency shall identify up to nine potential civil compliance investigations of publicly traded corporations, large non-profit corporations or associations, foundations with assets of 500 million dollars or more, State and local bar and medical associations, and institutions of higher education with endowments over 1 billion dollars," Tuesday's order read.
Additionally, Mr. Trump also rescinded President Lyndon Johnson’s 1965 and 1968 executive orders promoting diversity and affirmative action practices in federal government.
LBJ's order the order prohibited discrimination in hiring and employment based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. The order also gave the Secretary of Labor the authority to ensure equal opportunity for people of color and women in federal contractors' recruitment, hiring, training and other employment practices. It required federal contractors to refrain from employment discrimination and take affirmative action.
The order came more than a year after Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and just months after he signed the Voting Rights Act following violent attacks on voting rights advocates in Selma, Ala.