(Washington) US President Donald Trump issued an executive order on Thursday prohibiting companies working with the federal government from adopting internal policies combating racism or sexism.
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This decree, which will come into force in 30 days, comes against a backdrop of regular attacks by Donald Trump against diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs, a set of measures often in place for decades to combat discrimination.
The Republican president and many of his supporters are convinced that these measures prevent competent people from accessing jobs, and regularly accuse them of “reverse racism”.
“My Administration has made significant progress toward ending racial discrimination in American society, including so-called ‘diversity, equity, and inclusion’ (DEI) activities,” Mr. Trump wrote in the executive order.
He said DEI policies increase costs for employers, who will pass them on in their contracts with the federal government.
To win government contracts, companies will now have to include a seven-paragraph clause in their contracts, ensuring that “the contractor does not engage in any racially discriminatory DEI activity.”
Since returning to office, Donald Trump has pursued DEI programs in the federal government, universities and schools, and in sports.
In particular, he placed federal civil servants working in diversity services on technical unemployment, after ordering the closure of these programs.
In August, his administration announced that it would “reexamine” certain exhibitions in the Smithsonian museums in Washington, to remove “divisive or partisan speeches”, as part of its crusade against comments that it considers “woke”, that is to say too progressive.
