By Joshua Scales
Since President Donald Trump’s inauguration in January of 2025, Trump has signed more executive orders in his first 10 days than any other president signed in their first 100 days. One of Trump’s most divisive executive orders calls for the removal of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) programs in the United States government. DEI is commonly defined as the organized practice of encouraging the full representation of people of color and orientations who have historically been disadvantaged based on their identity.
The modern implementation of DEI has roots in the Civil Rights Movement that was influential in 1960s history, through which many organized against segregation and discrimination on account of race or gender. While some today may only attribute the Civil Rights Movement to protests in favor of rights for African Americans, in truth the movement supported all ethnic groups that were discriminated against. Revered American minister and activist Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a primary contributor to the Civil Rights Movement and delivered his famous “I Have A Dream” speech on August 28, 1963, during the March on Washington.
In his speech, King proclaimed: “I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” Through this quote, King expresses his desire not only for his own children but for all to receive the same opportunities and not to be denied based on their ethnicity. A mindset of tolerance continued to emerge in the late 1960s and 70s through the acceptance of integration and diversity in workplaces, schools, and communities. Then, from the mid-1970s into the 1990s, the focus was on multiculturalism (the acceptance of different cultures in a society) and raising awareness of the achievements of various racial and ethnic minorities.
DEI in the Current Era
With Trump’s return to leading the United States, he has already endorsed drastic changes in the past weeks. Among his executive orders have been changes to birthright citizenship, immigration, LGBTQ rights, healthcare, and, most important to this article, the apparent removal of DEI. Through Trump’s orders against concepts he and others in his party disagree with, many who are a part of minority groups have expressed concern that the aforementioned policy changes will negatively impact their lives and opportunities.
Additionally, given Trump’s position as Commander in Chief of the United States military, he has signed an executive order impacting Air Force basic training by requiring the removal of course material that documents the story of the Tuskegee Airmen. The Tuskegee Airmen were a group of primarily African American military pilots and airmen who fought in World War ll, demonstrating valor in their service. Trump’s order would prevent their significant story from inspiring new pilots, which remains especially crucial as the last of those who fought in the Second World War pass on, including Harry Stewart Jr. Stewart was one of the last surviving Tuskegee Airmen and passed away at age 100 on February 5, 2025.
Multiple large corporations including Google, Target, Amazon, McDonald's, and Walmart have complied with Trump’s executive order of removing DEI from both their store policies and products. The alleged use of DEI to prioritize candidates of minority groups over those who are most qualified has influenced Trump’s signing of the executive order, which also affects government positions in agencies including the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). In response to Trump’s continued executive orders, protests including the “50-50-1” (50 States, 50 Protests, 1 Day) have been organized.
These protests primarily targeted the roles of Trump, Elon Musk, and others in the United States government who have supported the passage of the executive orders. With economic uncertainty rising as a result of Trump’s tariffs imposed on Canada, Mexico, and China, protests against Trump’s presidency are expected to continue as many express their dissatisfaction with his administration. Corporations have also hesitated to comply with Trump’s executive order against DEI, including Costco. In an increasingly polarized era, many Americans look to the future for a unified country in which the needs of the people are prioritized over ideological issues.
