Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity Executive Order #14173 Date Issued: January 21, 2025 Topic: Civil Rights
WHAT DOES THIS EXECUTIVE ORDER DO? This order requires the Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs to prohibit federal contractors and subcontractors from “promoting ‘diversity’” and “engag[ing] in affirmative action and workforce balancing based on race, color, sex sexual preference, religion, or national origin.” The order directs the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Attorney General to remove references to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) principles from federal acquisition, contracting, grants, and financial assistance procedures and terminate all activities and programs that feature “diversity,” “equity,” “equitable decision-making,” “equitable deployment of financial and technical assistance,” “advancing equity,” and other related terms. The order compels all federal agency heads to require grantees and contractors to certify that they do not “operate any programs promoting DEI that violate any applicable Federal anti-discrimination laws.” The order directs the Attorney General and the Director of OMB to make recommendations on appropriate measures to “encourage the private sector to end illegal discrimination and preferences, including DEI.”
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