President Donald Trump’s initial executive orders and actions demonstrate a profound hostility to civil rights and many of the programs and policies that protect the rights of millions of Americans everyday.
Within his first few days in office, President Trump issued several executive orders to end diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility programs that protect federal employees and contractors from discrimination and ensure that every qualified applicant has an equal opportunity to be considered for a job. These executive orders even attempt to prevent companies from having diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility programs or policies, despite the fact that these programs have been shown in study after study to benefit both employees and the bottom line.
On Day One, he also rescinded dozens of executive orders that protect and advance civil rights across all aspects of our lives. This includes taking the country back on criminal justice reform by advancing the federal death penalty and eliminating an executive order on policing that was created with input from law enforcement and communities to advance common-sense reforms like banning chokeholds and no-knock warrants. Further, the recission of an executive order on artificial intelligence (AI) sets our country back from progress to ensure that the federal government uses AI in a safe and non-discriminatory way. And, this Administration has made it harder for people to register to vote by eliminating an executive order on voting that, among other things, encouraged federal agencies to facilitate access to voter registration.
There have been reports of some people tuning out the news. But everyone who cares about equality and justice needs to pay close attention and speak out. The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law will vigorously oppose any efforts to undermine civil rights and we remain steadfast in our commitment to advance justice and equality for people of color in America.
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Civil Rights Groups Sue Trump Administration to Challenge Anti-DEI Executive Orders on Behalf of Nonprofit Serving Diverse Group of Women in the Skilled Trades – February 26, 2025| Read more
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