DOJ Memoranda Take Aim At DEI-Related Private Sector Programs And Department Practices

On February 5, 2025, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi issued two memoranda to all Department of Justice (DOJ) employees outlining the DOJ's new policies and directives concerning diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEI) initiatives. The recent directives come just two weeks after President Trump issued Executive Order 14173 (Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity) (DEI EO), which reflect the new administration's broader efforts to curtail DEI policies and initiatives within both the public andprivate sectors.

DOJ Memo No. 1: Ending Illegal DEI and DEIA Discrimination and Preferences

The first memo outlines the DOJ's Civil Rights Division plans to use its vast resources to address DEI efforts in the private sector and academic institutions. Under the auspices of "fulfill[ing] the Nation's promise of equality for all Americans," the memo indicates that the DOJ's Civil Rights Division "will investigate, eliminate and penalize