Staff Reports
Donald Trump’s latest comeback has ignited a flash of excitement among conservatives, with his first week back in the White House bursting at the seams with sweeping policy changes. In a masterstroke of political maneuvering, Trump has even managed to fly under the radar of the mainstream media, with the liberal chatter surprisingly low concerning his bold initiatives. Not one to shy away from the big issues, Trump has taken on the highly contentious diversity, equity, and inclusion policies plaguing the federal government.
With history on his side, Trump is making waves by scrapping affirmative action—a bold move indeed, considering it was originally instated by President Lyndon Johnson 60 years ago. The now-iconic directive named “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity” marks a pivotal moment in the nation’s policy landscape. It orders an immediate halt to DEI initiatives and puts countless federal DEI staffers on paid leave. In a shock to the system, offices devoted to these programs have a mere 60 days to pack their bags and depart.
🚨BREAKING: Affirmative Action is Dead🚨
President Trump just revoked EO 11246, signed by President LBJ in 1965 which established mandatory Federal Gov Affirmative Action. The era of Afrocentric Marxism, DEI, and Black Supremacist discrimination just took a devastating KO blow. pic.twitter.com/TH987x20QB
— Robert Sepehr (@robertsepehr) January 22, 2025
The Department of Labor has been given a firm decree to cut the nonsense of promoting diversity and to stop placing any mandates on federal contractors regarding affirmative action. Trump’s sweeping measures affect a staggering number of businesses—around 20% of all U.S. workers are employed by companies that rely heavily on federal contracts worth approximately $759 billion. This isn’t just a minor shake-up; it’s a comprehensive reevaluation of how merit and opportunity are defined in the federal employment landscape.
But the ripple effects are set to extend well beyond just contractors. Any company that wants a piece of that federal pie will now think twice before sliding back into the awkward realm of diversity hiring quotas. There’s even a planned recommendation for private companies to “encourage” an end to illegal discrimination and preferences—not just a tap on the shoulder but a full-blown push. Several sectors could feel the heat from these moves, including nonprofits and educational institutions with large endowments, all being reminded that merit should take precedence over race, gender, and other arbitrary factors.
Critics are gearing up to oppose this refreshing pivot to meritocracy, as expected. Though the furious lawsuits and media backlash have gotten underway, the left’s initial shock at Trump’s swift actions may just mute their typical noise. Advocacy for a colorblind society, as espoused by none other than Martin Luther King Jr., has been echoed in Trump’s actions, dismantling decades of obligatory government-sanctioned discrimination.
While Trump’s critics can undoubtedly create a cacophony of convolution surrounding the implications of these orders, the intent remains clear: restore the values of hard work and individual achievement at the core of the American ethos. With this renewed focus on merit over misplaced identities, American institutions might finally have a shot at reclaiming their foundational promise; after decades of stumbles, meritocracy could be making a grand return to the forefront of the national conversation.
