BLAME IT ON DEI. Falsely linking diversity with incompetence, Trump’s rhetoric reveals an agenda rooted in division. (Illustration by Lani Ngonethong with elements from Canva).

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion. Often shortened to a succinct DEI, the term has been used to title workplace policies that promote the equal hiring and compensation of all people, especially those from typically underrepresented groups.

While DEI movements have a long history in America, they have been a hot topic in the 2020s under the Biden administration, with the president signing Executive Orders 13985 and 14035, both of which intended to bolster diversity in the federal government. DEI policies are now under fire though, with President Trump rescinding both previously mentioned orders within the first day of his second presidential term. Since then, Trump’s flawed points against DEI have revealed his attitude towards diversity that undermines DEI policies and their merits.

In his rescindment, Trump described Biden’s DEI programs as “illegal and immoral discrimination programs,” ironically using some of the same arguments that advocates of the policy use, stating that every person needs to be “served with equal dignity and respect.” The similarities between Trump’s rationale and the purpose of DEI end simply at words, as the two do not work towards the same goals. Whereas DEI policies and movements aim to decrease discrimination, the movement against DEI seems to be largely motivated by bigotry.

Nowhere is Trump’s misconstrued view on DEI more evident than his statements on the Potomac River crash back in February. In an effort to place blame on someone for the tragedy, Trump attacked diversity requirements in the Federal Aviation Administration. The aviation workers, he said, “have to be at the highest level of genius.” His accusations were framed in nothing factual and instead drew an inexplicable parallel between merit and diversity. His words display the true motive behind pushback on DEI; it’s not about “equal dignity and respect,” it’s about using stereotypes and fearmongering to push narratives.

While the plane crash is one of the most glaring examples of the anti-DEI movement, there have since been and will continue to be more incomprehensible actions taken. For example, according to a New York Times study, certain words that represent DEI have been removed from government documents, including memos, websites and even school curriculum. Words include “accessible,” “equality” and “female” among many others. The targeting of specific words, many of which pose no real threat, further emphasizes the irrational fixation on DEI that the Trump administration is pushing.

DEI is not the whole solution to issues of workplace discrimination, but they are a critical first step to addressing the issues. It is vital that DEI policies are not correlated with competence; they exist to give opportunities for everyone, no matter the background. Eliminating them and suppressing their principles is ultimately a dangerous step backward for America.

(Illustration made using Canva elements: surprise text bubble with transparent background by JIR Moronta, Solid Color Background by MFYao from Margaret Ferrera)