Trump’s Revocation of Key Employment Act Sparks Debate Over Its Impact on Workers

Since returning to the White House, President Donald Trump has wasted no time making his mark on his second term. Within hours of his inauguration on January 20, Trump signed 25 executive orders addressing a variety of issues, including halting the ban on TikTok, revising immigration laws, and controversially declaring that “there are only two genders.”

Among these sweeping actions, one of the most contentious decisions came on January 21, when Trump signed an executive order aimed at dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs across government agencies.

This move included revoking Executive Order 11246, which had been in place since 1965 and was designed to protect workers from discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin. The new order sends a clear message that DEI programs in federal agencies will be eliminated immediately, with Department of Labor employees responsible for enforcing these policies reportedly placed on paid leave, according to The New Republic.