President Donald Trump issued an executive order on Monday mandating the shutdown of federally run Diversity Equity and Inclusion DEI programs. The order titled “Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs And Preferencing‚” bans all federal DEI policies, mandates, and activities, labeling them discriminatory under two sections.
Although the order targets federal offices exclusively, Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy predicted a nationwide trend of similar actions. “I think it’s going to happen all over the country and quite honestly, I think it should,” Dunleavy stated.
However, Jennifer Booz, the Chief Diversity Officer at the University of Alaska Anchorage, defended inclusion initiatives, emphasizing their importance to Alaska’s diverse population. She explained that her office ensures compliance with nondiscrimination policies while recruiting the most qualified candidates.
“We want to make sure always that the most qualified candidate gets that position,” Booz said. He further explains that their efforts recruit talent widely, ensuring companies benefit from inclusive hiring practices.
Despite this, Booz expects the lower 48 states will phase out more DEI offices due to Trump ending federal DEI programs. The broader implications of this order concern Booz, who has acknowledged fluctuating support for DEI initiatives over the years.
Booz expressed optimism about private entities and nonprofits continuing equity efforts, even as public offices face shutdowns. “Public offices might be closed. There are private organizations and nonprofit organizations and social justice organizations that will pick up the work,” Booz said
Trumps ends federal DEI programs fueling a debate about balancing meritocracy with inclusion. This decision raised concerns over equity as DEI programs face increasing scrutiny nationwide.
This news article was originally published by Alaska’s News Source.
