Trump Administration Issues Executive Order Targeting DEI In The Private Sector

On January 21, 2025, President Donald J. Trump issued an executive order targeting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs and related measures that seek to address social inequality. Entitled "Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity," the order contains a number of concrete actions targeting the private sector, including ending affirmative action regulations for federal contracts and directing government agencies to:

• Remove any remaining government DEI-related programs, and
• Identify prominent businesses and other organizations for enforcement actions targeting private DEI-related programs and practices.

Key Aspects of the Order

Private Sector Focus