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Discrimination Is Still Illegal

An black and white row of empty desks in an office, a brightly colored lady justice statue enters from the left.

Discrimination Is Still Illegal

Public Justice’s Statement on Trump DEIA Executive Orders:

On January 20 and 21, the Trump administration issued a pair of executive orders that target diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (“DEI” or “DEIA”) programs. The orders threaten the government’s ability to serve people from all backgrounds equally, and they are designed to intimidate and discourage employers and organizations from taking lawful steps to increase diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. The orders are a shocking departure from decades of established anti-discrimination policy, but they cannot—and do not—overturn existing civil rights laws passed by Congress or the rights and protections guaranteed by our Constitution. Well-designed DEIA programs do not establish quotas or racial preferences, and programs that were lawful before the executive order are still lawful now. Discrimination in the workplace is still against the law.

The President’s executive orders—and federal government’s intimidating actions surrounding them—are largely designed to scare those who are committed to ensuring equal opportunity for all workers. They threaten the well-being of groups that have historically faced discrimination, and they increase the likelihood of discriminatory decision-making by the government and its contractors. But they are not a license to discriminate.

For more than four decades, Public Justice has worked to hold employers accountable when they do not follow the law, and we’ll continue doing just that. Additionally, our Access to Justice attorneys have developed a guide to help employers and attorneys understand the orders and how they affect ongoing anti-discrimination programs and policies.



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