In one of his first actions after being sworn in, President Donald Trump issued a series of executive orders reshaping U.S. government policies on gender and diversity. The moves follow through on promises he made during his 2024 campaign to address what he and his allies call “radical woke ideology.”
Among the directives revoked were Biden-era orders aimed at preventing discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation and promoting racial equity for underserved communities. Trump declared during his inaugural address that the U.S. government would officially recognize only two genders, male and female, which he stated “cannot be changed.”
“These policies will restore clarity and stability to our institutions while putting an end to illegal, inflationary, and divisive practices,” Trump said, referring to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
Trump also signed an order to eliminate DEI initiatives across federal agencies, cutting their funding and initiating a review of office names changed due to DEI efforts. An administration official called the measure a step toward ending “ideological overreach” in the government.
The announcement comes amid a broader trend of U.S. corporations scaling back or defending their DEI programs. Companies like McDonald’s, Walmart, and Meta have reduced such initiatives since Trump’s election, while others, including Apple and Target, have maintained their programs.
Supporters of DEI argue the initiatives address systemic discrimination, but critics, including many Republicans, have characterized them as divisive and costly.
The gender directive, which establishes a binary understanding of male and female, could have wide-reaching implications for education, healthcare, and workplace regulations. Trump’s campaign platform, Project 47, called for eliminating federal funding for what it described as “radical gender ideology” and limiting transgender athletes’ participation in sports that align with their gender identity.
Healthcare experts, including the World Health Organization (WHO), warn that policies restricting recognition of diverse gender identities could harm individuals’ mental and physical wellbeing. On the same day, Trump signed another order to begin withdrawing the United States from the WHO, citing disagreements over the organization’s policies and priorities.
Trump’s actions mark a stark shift from policies under the Biden administration and reflect growing conservative criticism of expanded transgender rights and DEI programs. The Supreme Court’s 2023 decision to ban affirmative action in university admissions has already spurred changes in diversity initiatives, and Trump’s policies appear poised to accelerate this trend.
The new orders are likely to ignite legal challenges and spark debates about their long-term implications for equality and civil rights in the U.S.
