Trump Revokes Federal DEI Mandates and Launches Investigations

Donald Trump issued executive orders in 2025 revoking federal mandates that integrated diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs across the U.S. government. These orders triggered a series of federal actions aimed at eliminating racial preferences in public and private institutions.

The Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, led by Harmeet Dhillon, launched at least 25 investigations, lawsuits, and settlements. These actions target alleged unlawful racial preferences at institutions including Arizona State University, Duke University, and various medical schools. Simultaneously, the State Department conducted a review finding that the previous administration had required foreign service officers to undergo training on critical race theory and "white fragility" to qualify for promotions, a practice the department now claims has ended.

These federal efforts follow a 2023 Supreme Court ruling prohibiting racial preferences in college admissions. However, the push to end DEI faces mixed results. While some federal agencies attempted to end DEI in grants to California cities, a federal judge in California recently ruled that those agencies exceeded their authority. Additionally, several corporations, including Apple and Microsoft, continue to maintain their own DEI programs.