DateIssued:August7,2025
Topic:DEI,LGBTQ+Rights
Thisexecutiveorderchangesthecriteriafordiscretionarygrantfunding andaddsadditionaloversighttothegrantmakingprocesstoensurethat federalgrantrecipientsdonot“compromisepublicsafetyorpromote anti-Americanvalues.”
Theorderprohibitsdiscretionarygrantfundingfororganizationsthat promote“racialpreferences,”acknowledgenon-binaryortransgender individuals,orsupportundocumentedimmigrants.
HOWWILLTHISEXECUTIVEORDERBEENFORCED?
Thisexecutiveorderisprimarilyenforcedbyagencyheadsandthe DirectoroftheOfficeofManagementandBudget(OMB).
Theorderdirectseachagencyheadtodesignateaseniorpolitical appointeetodevelopanewreviewprocesstoensurethatfunding opportunitiesanddiscretionarygrantsadheretothenewcriterionoutlined intheorder.
Theorderhaltsallnewfundingannouncementsuntiltheaforementioned processisfullyimplemented.
Theorderbestowssoleresponsibilityforreviewingdiscretionarygrant applicationstotheagencyhead’sseniorappointeeandrequiresthat appointeetograntdiscretionaryawardstoprojectsthatwouldadvance PresidentTrump’spolicypriorities,whereapplicable.
Theorderinstructstheseniorappointeestofundabroadrangeof organizationsthatproduce“GoldStandardScience.”
PresidentTrumpissuedanexecutiveorderinMaythatestablished “GoldStandardScience,”anewprotocolforscientificexperimentation atthefederallevel.GoldStandardScienceischaracterizedas reproducible,transparent,communicativeoferroranduncertainty, collaborativeandinterdisciplinary,skepticalofitsfindingsand assumptions,structuredforfalsifiabilityofhypotheses,subjectto unbiasedpeerreview,acceptingofnegativeresultsaspositive outcomes,andwithoutconflictsofinterest.
TheordercompelstheOMBDirectortoaddaterminationclauseto discretionaryawardsforconvenience,includingwhentheawardnolonger advancesagencyprioritiesorthenationalinterest.
TheorderrequiresagencyheadstosendareporttotheOMBDirectorwith thenumberofactivediscretionaryawardsattheagency,andwhetherthe awardshaveterminationclauseswithin30daysoftheorder’sissuance.
HOWDOESTHISIMPACTBLACKCOMMUNITIES?
ThisexecutiveorderwillhavesignificantimplicationsforBlackAmericans, asitwilljeopardizefederalfundingforprogramsrunbypublichousing authorities,faith-basedgroups,anduniversitiesthatsupportBlack communities.Discretionarygrantsarefinancialawardsthatfundspecific projectsatvariousamountsbasedonthediscretionoftheadministering agency.
ThisorderwillthreatenfundingforhistoricallyBlackcollegesand universities(HBCUs)thatapplyforfundingtosupporttheirpredominantly Blackstudentbodies.InthewakeofPresidentTrump’sexecutiveorder dismantlingtheDepartmentofEducation,andtheOneBigBeautifulBill Act(OBBBA)reducingthePellGrantallocation,Blackstudentswillface additionalbarrierstoaccessinghighereducationthatwillaffect communitiesofcolorforgenerations.
Over40%ofpublichousingresidenceslistaBlackpersonastheheadof thehousehold,thoughBlackpeopleonlycomprise14.4%oftheUS population.Thisorderwillmakeitmoredifficultforpublichousing authoritiestoseekfundingopportunities,whichwilldisproportionately impactBlackfamilies.
Thisorderalsogivespoliticalappointeestheauthoritytooverseefederal grantsandrequiresthemtoconsidertheorganization’salignmentwith PresidentTrump’spolicyprioritiesasgrantmakingcriteria.President Trumpwonjust16%oftheBlackvotein2024,andrecentpollingfoundthat 83%ofBlackAmericansdisapproveofhistimeinoffice.Thisorderwill makeitmoredifficultfororganizationsthatsupportBlackcommunities, LGBTQ+individuals,andundocumentedimmigrantstoreceivefederal fundingbyoverridingprecedentandpenalizingorganizationsthatarenot politicallyalignedwiththePresident.
MembersoftheCongressionalBlackCaucus(CBC)havespokenout againsttheTrumpAdministration’seffortstoeliminateDEIfromthe federalgovernment.
InJanuary,theCBCissuedthefollowingstatementaboutPresident Trump’sexecutiveorderdismantlingDEI:“Insteadofworkingtocreate economicopportunitiesthatwillallowAmericanstogetahead,build generationalwealth,andachievetheAmericandream,President Trumpondayoneofhisadministrationsignedanexecutiveorderto systematicallydismantlealldiversity,equity,andinclusioninitiatives withinthefederalgovernment.[…]Thisexecutiveorderisnotonlya brokeneconomicpromise,itstandsinoppositiontoevidencewhich showsthatdiversityinitiativesimprovethegovernment'sabilityto betterserveourcommunities.”FullStatement