Trump ends diversity programs at State Department through executive order

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Tuesday officially ending the various diversity programs at the State Department, thus annulling the initiative promoted by former President Joe Biden during his administration, which sought to solidify the presence of these programs in various agencies in the country. As reported by The Hill, the Republican leader's order provides that the government not base hiring, retention, promotion or recruitment decisions in the Foreign Service on different aspects such as skin color, race, ethnicity, national origin or even religion of the individual.

The order formally instructs the State Department to eliminate completely the "Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility’ Core Precept from Foreign Service tenure and promotion criteria." Also, the order states that "relevant agencies shall identify and take appropriate action regarding any Foreign Service Officer who knowingly and willfully engaged in illegal discrimination."

A win for Trump

Trump's order came just days after an appeals court lifted the block on the Republican administration's executive orders seeking to end government support for various diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs. The decision by the three-judge panel of the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals represented a real victory for the U.S. president by allowing these orders to be enforced as the lawsuit challenging them unfolds.

The decision in question officially overturned a nationwide injunction that had been issued by Baltimore District Judge Adam Abelson. Two of the judges explained that while the president's crackdown on DEI programs could raise some concerns about First Amendment rights under the Constitution in the future, Abelson's block was a clearly disproportionate measure.