Since President Trump took office on January 21st, the administration has been making strides toward dismantling federal Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs deemed unconstitutional. The Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL) laid out a detailed roadmap earlier this year to guide efforts in eliminating race-based policies in the federal government. Their framework relies on three key tools: termination, settlement, and investigation.
Progress So Far
WILL tracker estimates that approximately 18% of its outlined objectives have already been met, with several DEI-related programs either defunded, repealed, or legally challenged. Among the administration’s actions so far, multiple race-based initiatives have been terminated, while additional lawsuits have been settled or are under review by federal agencies. The pace of these efforts suggests that more significant rollbacks are on the horizon.
The Three-Step Approach to Ending DEI by WILL
- Terminate: Agencies under President Trump’s leadership have broad authority to shut down discriminatory programs. The Department of Justice (DOJ) can decline to enforce unconstitutional policies, and federal agencies can repeal regulations through the Administrative Procedures Act. This process is underway for multiple programs that have imposed racial preferences in hiring, education, and healthcare.
- Settle: Legal battles over DEI initiatives have led to settlements under previous administrations, including the Biden administration, which actively ended cases from Trump’s first term. Trump’s DOJ now has the ability to settle lawsuits challenging unconstitutional DEI policies, ensuring that the federal government no longer defends race-based discrimination.
- Investigate: Federal agencies such as the Department of Education and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) are using Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to investigate race-based discrimination within federally funded institutions. Schools, hospitals, and organizations that have imposed race-based policies are now facing scrutiny. Institutions that engaged in discriminatory practices, such as universities favoring certain racial groups in admissions or employers enforcing hiring quotas, are potential targets for review.
Targeting Discriminatory DEI Programs
While many groups have focused on internal DEI policies within federal agencies, WILL’s strategy targets outward-facing programs affecting millions of Americans. These include policies embedded in K-12 education, higher education, healthcare, and federal contracting. The Trump administration is prioritizing these areas for review and potential action.
What’s Next?
The dismantling of unconstitutional DEI programs is still in its early stages, but the results so far indicate a deliberate effort to return to policies based on equality rather than racial preferences. As additional lawsuits are settled and investigations proceed,
With many DEI programs still in place, the coming months will be crucial in determining the full scope of the administration’s efforts. If the early momentum continues, the federal government could see a major rollback of race-based initiatives, restoring a focus on equal treatment under the law.
