Fears abound as Trump ends DEI programs, LGBTQ+ protections

As part of his first wave of executive orders, President Donald Trump has moved to systematically dismantle federal diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs and gender protections, marking a dramatic shift in policy that could reshape workplace dynamics and civil rights protections across the country.

Trump’s executive order titled “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing” calls for the termination of all DEI offices and positions within the federal government. It requires agencies to identify and eliminate DEI programs, even those that may have been “misleadingly relabeled” to preserve their function.

In line with the order, the administration has urged federal employees to report on colleagues and departments suspected of concealing diversity initiatives. Government workers were warned of “adverse consequences” if they fail to report hidden DEI programs within 10 days.

Speaking to The Rebel Yellow about the order’s impact on Asian American communities, Sydelle Barreto, policy manager of economic justice at the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF), says the directive creates a dangerous precedent. “The Trump administration’s assault on diversity, equity and inclusion programs is an attack on the fundamental promise of equal opportunity and justice for all — a promise that has always been intertwined with the fight for reproductive justice,” Barreto says. “This executive order not only undermines decades of progress toward addressing systemic discrimination but also sends a chilling message that racial and gender equity are unwelcome in federal spaces.”

Barreto emphasizes that DEI initiatives play a vital role in helping AAPI women and gender-expansive individuals get fair access to healthcare, tackle anti-Asian violence and secure economic justice.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ “We know that racial inequality cannot be tackled in isolation — it is deeply tied to gender, health and legal protections,” Barreto adds. “Our children deserve a future where the government doesn’t pit employees against each other to uphold oppressive systems but instead values inclusivity as a cornerstone of progress. These attacks may be designed to derail immediate change, but we remain committed to building a long-term foundation of equity and opportunity for the next generation.”

The administration’s anti-DEI policy extends beyond federal agencies, taking aim at private sector initiatives. Under executive order “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity,” companies with federal contracts must certify they do not operate DEI programs that violate “any applicable federal anti-discrimination laws.” This requirement affects a substantial portion of American business, as federal contract spending reached $739 billion in fiscal year 2023.

Several major corporations have already begun rolling back DEI initiatives in anticipation of these changes. Walmart announced it would no longer consider race and gender in supplier contracts, while Meta, McDonald’s and Boeing have also dropped various DEI commitments. However, some companies with federal contracts, such as Microsoft and Accenture, have maintained their DEI programs.

Meanwhile, one of Trump’s most contentious executive orders, “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism,” establishes a strict binary definition of sex across federal policy, recognizing only “male” and “female” as determined at conception. The order:

For AAPI communities already facing intersectional challenges in healthcare access and gender-based discrimination, these restrictions could have far-reaching consequences. “This executive order, which seeks to erase the existence of transgender and gender-expansive people by narrowly defining gender, is a direct assault on the freedoms and futures of the most vulnerable among us,” NAPAWF Senior Policy Manager Fajer Saeed Ebrahim tells The Rebel Yellow. “The same legal tools being used to attack gender-affirming care for transgender youth are being weaponized against reproductive healthcare and abortion access — our fates are legally and morally intertwined.”

Ebrahim says the directive presents serious concerns about widespread discrimination and violence affecting AAPI women, young people and gender expansive individuals throughout the healthcare system, from contraception access to safeguards for LGBTQIA+ people. Such “interconnected attacks,” Ebrahim notes, threaten individuals’ right to make decisions about their own bodies, which is fundamental to reproductive justice.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

“As every major medical association affirms, gender-affirming care is essential and life-saving; this administration’s decision to deny it puts countless lives at risk, including many from marginalized and intersectional communities,” Ebrahim adds. “We are playing the long game because our youth — who will inherit this fight — deserve a world where their identities are celebrated, their autonomy respected and their futures protected.”

Civil rights advocates have strongly condemned Trump’s orders. In a statement to AP News, Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, called them “a smokescreen for firing civil servants” and “undermining the apolitical civil service.”

Meanwhile, the National Action Network, led by Rev. Al Sharpton, announced plans to identify and boycott two companies that abandon their DEI commitments in the next 90 days.

The controversial orders represent a complete reversal of Biden administration priorities and could have lasting implications for federal employment practices and civil rights protections. Legal challenges are expected, particularly regarding the constitutionality of requiring employees to report on their colleagues and the potential impact on existing civil rights protections.

The administration has given agencies 60 days to terminate DEI positions and programs, with implementation reports due within 120 days. For the private sector, the Department of Justice will develop a strategic enforcement plan identifying “the most egregious and discriminatory DEI practitioners” for potential investigation.