Trump’s Hot War With DEI
By J. Simpson
Editor’s note: The opinions expressed here are those of the authors. View more opinion on ScoonTV
Donald Trump has been fixating on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) as long as he’s been involved with politics. He started making moves against DEI initiatives during his first term in office. He’s been even more laser-focused on the issue this term, even making what he refers to as “anti-white racism” one of the central issues of his 2024 presidential campaign.
These have turned out to be more than just empty words. President Trump started firing off Executive Orders targeting DEI initiatives, dismantling existing Federal programs, pressuring Federal contractors to avoid “illegal DEI discrimination,” and for government agencies to compile a list of companies with DEI policies in place.
Many companies quickly complied, sensing a shift in cultural attitudes towards DEI. Mark Zuckerberg immediately canceled META’s DEI programs. On one hand, this could simply be to show compliance with a new conservative administration. On the other hand, it could be a sign that Zuckerberg and other business leaders like him have been waiting for an opportunity to shutter these DEI programs.
It begs the question – are President Trump’s policies just an attempt to undo liberal excesses of the 2010s? Or is it mere pandering to his base?
What Is DEI?
DEI is a vague term for a broad set of policies and practices. Generally speaking, DEI is intended to make sure that companies are complying with civil rights laws as well as creating environments where members of marginalized communities are able to flourish.
This is in keeping with the prevailing wisdom that diverse companies are more profitable. As Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, a former civil rights lawyer and a Democrat, told the New York Times recently.
Talk to any CEO of a major Fortune 500 company. They’ll tell you that their bottom line, dollar-wise, does better when there’s more diversity in the room.
Criticisms of DEI
Some critics of DEI initiatives feel that they’re simply discriminatory in a different direction. Others feel that they’re not only unethical, but also bad for business. Rather than focusing on merit and finding the best candidate, they focus on identity markers like race or gender. Still others feel that they’re discriminatory towards the marginalized communities themselves, as it leaves people wondering if they’re qualified for their jobs. It’s even debatable whether minority communities benefit from DEI; the major beneficiary seems to be white women.
Some other criticisms of DEI aren’t solely about the programs but rather how they’re implemented. President Trump’s administration isn’t the only critic of DEI. Harvard Business Review was pointing out issues with DEI back in 2022, citing a lack of enforceability and actual accomplishments. Some feel they’re even counter-productive, making members of marginalized communities feel even less accepted in the workplace.
There’s more to this story than meets the eye. For one thing, President Trump’s administration is interpreting “Diversity” very broadly, using the executive orders to target everything from hiring quotas to programs for reporting sexual harassment.
Criticisms of Anti-DEI Initiatives
The Trump Administration isn’t being entirely consistent with its interpretation of DEI. They cite a return to meritocracy as one of the main reasons for dismantling DEI. DEI programs enhance meritocracy, however. As the Executive Director of Meltzer Center for Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging and co-author of Say The Right Thing: How to Talk About Identity, Diversity, and Justice, David Glasgow told CBS News. DEI enhances merit by saying,
How do we find the best people for the job or make sure we are promoting the best people? And that means thinking about barriers and biases that might be getting in the way of considering the full talent pool.
According to Glasgow, DEI programs improve meritocracy. While there’s work to be done on DEI, it also seems overly hasty to abandon the idea entirely.
The controversy around DEI in the military has been one of the greatest areas of focus for the Trump administration. In one of the first Executive Orders of his second term, President Trump cancelled DEI programs in the military, claiming they discouraged leadership and merit. Furthermore, the Executive Order prohibits the military from teaching recruits that America’s founding documents are racist or sexist. This order extends to the Coast Guard and the National Guard.
According to President Trump, he is “committed to meritocracy and to the elimination of race-based and sex-based discrimination within the Armed Forces of the United States. No individual or group within our Armed Forces should be preferred or disadvantaged on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, color, or creed.”
As part of President Trump’s Executive Order, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has to provide a report detailing all of the military’s current DEI programs. Both the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security are expected to submit a plan for how they plan to meet the new guidelines within 30 days. This will be followed up with a progress report at 180 days.
The military is one area where it makes sense to oppose DEI policies. If there’s any area where you want meritocracy to lead the decision-making process, it’s the military. You want the most physically and mentally capable individuals possible to keep your country safe. Furthermore, the resistance to DEI education in the military also makes some sense. Some research suggests that it makes racial prejudice in the workplace worse, which is completely antithetical to fostering the sense of unity and togetherness the military needs.
DEI programs have been accused of being a waste of money, too, which is one of the most common reasons given by the Trump Administration. The Department of Defense allocated $68 million for DEI in 2022, which increased to $86.5 million in 2023. There were plans for that budget to expand to $114.7 million in 2024. That’s a lot of money to spend on a program with questionable outcomes.
Others maintain that a healthy DEI program is the key to maintaining an effective military. In 2023, the Students for Fair Admissions filed a motion with the Supreme Court against the President and Fellows of Harvard University. As they state in STUDENTS FOR FAIR ADMISSIONS, INC. v. PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE, “The importance of maintaining a diverse, highly qualified officer corps has been beyond legitimate dispute for decades. History has shown that placing a diverse Armed Forces under the command of homogeneous leadership is a recipe for internal resentment, discord, and violence. By contrast, units that are diverse across all levels are more cohesive, collaborative, and effective.”
While it’s safe to suggest that the money spent on DEI in the military could be better invested elsewhere. Prioritizing a healthy pipeline of the best candidates needs to be a priority if the American military is to remain one of the mightiest in the world, but whether or not DEI is the best tool to achieve that goal remains to be seen.
IS DEI Disappearing?
Given the Trump Administration’s accelerated targeting of DEI policies, many companies immediately struck all language referencing Diversity, Equity, or Inclusion from their official policies. Some companies are pushing back against the anti-DEI policies, though. Costco successfully held its ground against an anti-DEI policy, stating that a commitment to respect and inclusion is vital to its profitability. Costco’s theory might be working with some consumers, as both Walmart and Target’s sales have plummeted after they gave in to Trump’s DEI mandates.
JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon has said they’re still as committed to maintaining a diverse workforce and customer base. Finally, Jamba Juice CEO James White talks about how the best business leaders will continue to prioritize DEI, no matter what it’s called.
You have to separate the anti-DEI movement from what is happening at the companies. There is clickbait and headlines that get people agitated, but the best leaders at the best companies are still trying to find ways to attract, hire, and retain the very best talent available from the widest demographic set available to them.
President Trump’s fixation on DEI risks falling into government overreach – the same thing he criticized other administrations for. When paired with President Trump’s list-making, there’s certainly reason to suspect Trump’s anti-DEI initiatives could just be another tool for antagonizing his enemies or forcing compliance. As things stand, there’s room for DEI to be improved, but maybe not like this.
Curtis Scoon is the founder of ScoonTv.com Download the ScoonTv App to join our weekly livestream every Tuesday @ 8pm EST!
