EXECUTIVE ORDER 4/23/2025: REMOVES CIVIL RIGHTS PROTECTIONS
President Trump signed an executive order (EO) titled “Restoring Equality of Opportunity and Meritocracy”. What’s their explanation? To stop the government and its contractors from using race, gender, or other characteristics in hiring, promotions, or contracts. Instead, decisions should be based solely on individual merit—like skills, experience, and qualifications.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/04/restoring-equality-of-opportunity-and-meritocracy/
The order targets a concept called “disparate impact”, which is a legal theory that says even if a policy isn’t intentionally discriminatory, it can still be illegal if it disproportionately affects a particular group. This EO argues that such a theory forces employers to consider race or gender to avoid lawsuits, which, in their view, undermines the principle of treating everyone equally.
What’s the goal?
No more disparate impact: The order eliminates the use of disparate-impact liability in federal governance.
Revokes previous EOs: It revokes several past executive orders that supported affirmative action and diversity programs.
Centralizes enforcement: The Department of Labor’s Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy now has the main authority to enforce anti-discrimination requirements in procurement, reducing the roles of other agencies.
Why does it suck?
It undermines Civil Rights protections: By eliminating disparate impact liability, it could make it harder to challenge policies that, while neutral on their face, disproportionately harm marginalized groups. That’s why the original EOs were signed in the first place.
Reduces diversity initiatives: It may lead to the dismantling of programs aimed at increasing diversity in workplaces and educational institutions.
Supporters say it’s about treating everyone equally and focusing on individual merit. Critics argue it could roll back decades of progress in civil rights and diversity efforts.
