Diversity, equity, and inclusion. Three words that create the framework for diminishing discrimination in the workplace or on college campuses. DEI policies are in place to ensure every employee or student feels valued, respected, and is given equal opportunities regardless of race, gender, age, background, and sexual orientation. This year the government is working to eliminate DEI due to President Donald Trump viewing a policy promoting fairness and equality as “shameful discrimination.” In Trump’s first week in office he signed an Executive Order restoring merit-based hiring and promotions across the federal government, which in turn eliminated the efforts made toward DEI. 

“Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) are fundamental to creating a learning environment where all students can thrive. DEI initiatives ensure that every student has access to the resources and support they need to reach their full potential. By embracing diverse perspectives and promoting equity, we not only enhance individual student experiences but also prepare graduates to contribute meaningfully to a diverse and interconnected world,” stated Jazlin Coley-Smith, the director of the Crew Scholars program at Drake University and a DEI advocate. 

DEI was created in 1965 during the Civil Rights Movement when President Lyndon Johnson issued an executive order that required all government employers to hire without regard to race, religion, and ethnic background. As the years passed, DEI grew to include all genders and sexual orientations. These policies were put in place because marginalized communities were often put as a disadvantage and not granted equal opportunities during the hiring process.  

“DEI is extremely important and needs to stay in place given the fact that America is supposed to be a “melting pot” of cultures and that needs to be honored to keep that title,” Morgan Shortell 26’ said. 

After heavy criticism from President Trump, DEI has recently come under fire. Many people believe that DEI gives minorities an unfair advantage during the hiring process while disregarding the candidates with the highest qualifications. This point completely disregards DEI’s intent to ensure every person has an equal chance, including non minorities. 

“We have ended the tyranny of so-called diversity, equity and inclusion policies all across the entire federal government and, indeed, the private sector and our military, and our country will be woke no longer,” President Donald Trump said during an address before a joint session of Congress claiming his administration had eliminated DEI.

When we pull back on DEI policies we allow workplaces that encourage discrimination, unfairness, and favoritism. Banning DEI sends the message that we want to build an America where only some of our citizens can thrive. 

“Yes DEI is important, just because we look different and have different beliefs doesn’t mean we need to be separated, as we should be accepting of who we are,” an anonymous student stated. 

With new action by the Trump administration the future of DEI is uncertain, but some administrators still believe DEI will continue to thrive and have a home on college campuses. Instead of having a separate DEI department, diversity, equity, and inclusion, will be sprinkled in all aspects of the school. Students and teachers alike will have the responsibility to follow expectations of the three pillars.

“The future of DEI in higher education is evolving to become more integrated and outcome focused. Institutions are moving beyond symbolic gestures to implement strategic, data-driven approaches that address systemic inequities. This includes embedding DEI principles into all aspects of university operations from curriculum design to faculty recruitment and continuously assessing their impact to ensure meaningful progress,” stated Smith. 

So far, many major companies such as Google, Amazon, Target, Walmart, Mcdonalds, and Meta have pulled back their DEI policies. Many consumers have begun to fight back and start boycotting in protest of the removal of DEI. The best example of this would be the Target boycott. After removing their DEI policies, Target logged 10 consecutive weeks of falling in store traffic.

Individuals who have careers regarding DEI have been affected in different ways in response to the ban. There have been many reports of directors of diversity, equity, and inclusion being laid off as companies remove their positions. Other individuals in these departments report having to find new ways to perform their respective responsibilities. 

“Recent policy changes at both state and federal levels have introduced new challenges to DEI work in higher education. These developments require us to be more innovative and resilient. While certain restrictions may limit traditional DEI activities, they also prompt us to explore alternative strategies to support our students and maintain an inclusive campus environment,” Smith stated.