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ARTICLE · 12 AUGUST 2025

Ditching DEI: Causes For Concern And The Case For Inclusive Policies

RDJ LLP
RDJ LLP
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From progress to pullbacks, U.S. President Donald Trump's crackdown on Diversity, Equality & Inclusion programmes is being felt internationally.

GlobalEmployment and HR
Jennifer Cashman
Jennifer Cashman
Sophie Petticrew
Sophie Petticrew
Sarah Ryan
Sarah Ryan
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Introduction

From progress to pullbacks, U.S. President Donald Trump's crackdown on Diversity, Equality & Inclusion programmes is being felt internationally. Ireland, however, has made steady progress on embedding DE&I policies into legislation relevant to Employment law and broader societal frameworks. This insight examines the risks posed by the curtailment of DE&I initiatives from an Irish perspective, and the importance of continuing to champion inclusive policies despite the shift in attitude of the Trump administration.

A top priority for President Trump upon his return to the Oval Office in January 2025 was an immediate retreat from Diversity, Equality and Inclusion ('DEI'), which he implemented through three Executive Orders. An order published on 20 January 2025 had the objective of "Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing" within the U.S. federal government. In a further order of the same date, President Trump sought to

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