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Trump signs executive orders ending federal DEI programs

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Trump signs executive orders ending federal diversity, equity and inclusion programs and directing agencies to target DEI practices in the private sector.

Trump signs Executive Order 14151, terminating diversity, equity and inclusion offices, positions and programs across the federal government. A second order the following day, Executive Order 14173, revokes Executive Order 11246 — the 1965 order governing federal contractor equal employment obligations — and directs agencies to identify DEI practices in the private sector for scrutiny.

Several large employers, among them Amazon in December 2024 and Meta on 10 January 2025, had scaled back internal DEI programs before the orders were signed; Target announced changes on 24 January 2025. The sequence is documented, but these decisions were not directed by the orders and the extent to which they were responses to them is not established here.

The orders were challenged in court. In February 2026 the Fourth Circuit vacated a nationwide preliminary injunction against them, holding that the challenged provisions survive a facial challenge while leaving as-applied challenges open.

Sources

  1. 01.

    Executive Office of the President. Executive Order 14151: Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing. (2025). Signed 20 January 2025, published 29 January 2025 at 90 FR 8339. Terminates federal DEI offices, positions and programs.

  2. 02.

    Executive Office of the President. Executive Order 14173: Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity. (2025). Signed 21 January 2025, published 31 January 2025 at 90 FR 8633. Revokes Executive Order 11246 and directs agencies toward private-sector DEI practices.

  3. 03.

    United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education v. Trump, No. 25-1189. (2026). Published opinion of 6 February 2026 vacating the nationwide preliminary injunction and holding the challenged provisions survive a facial challenge, while preserving as-applied challenges.

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January 20, 2025
Trump signs executive orders ending federal DEI programs
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