With Arthur J. Lurigio
Fear and political pressure have forced Ohio State University to cancel Black History Month and Women’s History Month events. Johns Hopkins University has had $800 million in public health research grants suspended because of its use of inclusive language in projects related to AIDS research in Africa and studies involving LGBTQ+ communities.
These alarming actions are part of a broader attack on diversity equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives fueled by a deliberate effort to discredit and dismantle American higher education.
The Trump administration is strategically distorting the meaning of DEI—exploiting confusion and fear around gender identity and other social issues—to divide the nation and undermine the foundations of American higher education. In the wake of the Gaza War, a rise in antisemitic violence has been weaponized to accelerate this assault on universities, further destabilizing educational institutions and public discourse essential to the health of civil society.
History and Purpose of DEI
DEI policies were established to remove systemic barriers that have historically marginalized groups, including women, African Americans, LGBTQ+ individuals and people with disabilities. Rooted in the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Executive Order 11246 of 1965, these protections ensured fair employment and educational opportunities for all. In 2021, President Joe Biden expanded this legacy with an executive order titled “Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) in the Federal Workforce,” strengthening the federal government’s role as a model employer for DEIA initiatives.
The Trump Administration’s Attack on DEI
On Jan. 20, President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14151, titled “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferences,” branding DEI as “illegal and immoral discrimination programs” and “a public waste.” This order halted all federal DEI initiatives, placed DEI personnel on paid leave and paved the way for mass layoffs.
Trump’s newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by billionaire Elon Musk—who has referred to DEI as “just another word for racism”—has aggressively implemented this policy shift. The administration’s actions threaten decades of progress in workplace and educational equity, legitimizing biased employment and admissions practices while dismantling policies that foster equal opportunity.
In a recent address before Congress, Trump declared, “We have ended the tyranny of so-called diversity, equality, and inclusion policies throughout the federal government and, indeed, in the private sector and our military. “Our country will be woke no longer.” Without evidence, he has blamed DEI for disasters such as the California wildfires and a deadly aircraft accident in Washington, alleging that these initiatives prioritize diversity over merit and thus endanger national security.
The Fallout: A Climate of Fear and Legal Battles
The eradication of DEI policies has sent shockwaves through federal agencies, including the State Department, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Office of Personnel Management, all of which have removed DEI-related content from their websites. Corporate giants such as McDonald’s, Instagram, Ford, Lowe’s, Amazon, Boeing, Target and Walmart have followed suit, replacing “diversity” with “meritocracy” in their corporate policies. This shift threatens to erase decades of workplace advancements and reintroduce systemic discrimination under the guise of “equal opportunity.”
The backlash has been swift. Advocacy groups, civil rights attorneys, the United Nations and the American Civil Liberties Union have mounted legal challenges, asserting that dismantling DEI removes critical safeguards for historically marginalized communities. A lawsuit filed in the Maryland Federal Court on Feb. 21 by the City of Baltimore, university professors, chief diversity officers and others led to an injunction preventing the termination of “equity-related” contracts and grants under EO 14151.
Further litigation looms as Executive Orders 14151, 14173, and 14168—targeting DEI and eliminating gender identity policies—are contested in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. The Department of Justice is expected to appeal any ruling unfavorable to the administration, with a Supreme Court challenge likely.
The Rising Tide of Hate
Trump’s dismantling of DEI comes amid a surge in antisemitic violence. In 2024 alone, antisemitic incidents rose by nearly 300%, driven by geopolitical tensions and domestic extremism. The removal of DEI protections further marginalizes Jewish communities, allowing discrimination, vandalism and hate crimes to escalate unchecked.
Similarly, the LGBTQ+ community faces heightened risk. Since formal documentation of such incidents began in 1979, LGBTQ+ individuals have endured persistent discrimination, including housing and workplace harassment, hate crimes and systemic exclusion. The Trump administration’s rollback of DEI emboldens extremists, intensifying violence and discrimination against LGBTQI+ Americans.
The Fight for Equity
Corporate and community leaders continue to champion DEI despite the administration’s efforts. Former Merck CEO Ken Frazier stated, “At its best, DEI is about developing talent, measuring it fairly, and finding hidden and disadvantaged talent in a world where not everybody has an equal chance to exhibit their abilities.” His words underscore that DEI is not about exclusion but ensuring equal access to opportunities.
The dismantling of DEI represents more than a policy shift—it is a calculated regression in the fight for civil rights and social progress. These actions will reverberate across workplaces, educational institutions, and communities, undoing decades of hard-fought progress. The battle to preserve DEI is not just about protecting marginalized communities; it is about upholding the core values of fairness, justice, and equal opportunity that define a just and democratic society.
Nick Patricca, Professor Emeritus, Loyola University, Chicago
Arthur Lurigio, Professor of Criminal Justice and Psychology, Loyola University, Chicago