In order for a government to function correctly the best people for the job need to be in charge. This should be a rather simple concept, but for many on the Left it hasn’t been. They feel as though race and gender should play a role in who gets awarded a job.

This practice of hiring people off their exterior characteristics is referred to as Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, or DEI for short. This ideology has been extremely harmful, not just at the government level, but also in the private sector. Companies have felt pressured to use DEI to hire employees which has resulted in them not being able to obtain the best candidate.

It’s pretty obvious that if you don’t hire someone based off their meritocracy they likely won’t be the most outstanding employee you can find. Yet, those on the Left insist that DEI is the way to go in order to achieve goals for a company or government. Hiring based off meritocracy and not race or gender should be an idea that both Republicans and Democrats can agree on. But that isn’t always the case. President Donald Trump and Republicans however, have rebutted this idea of DEI and have called for the dismantling of its programs across America, particularly in the government.

Trump and his administration are also looking at ways to axe these programs within America’s school systems. This will in-turn lead to better learning opportunities for children which will of course have a long-run effect on American society. This isn’t just an empty promise that Trump is making either. He and his team are seriously cracking down on DEI initiatives in the Department of Education, and they won’t rest until those initiatives are completely gone.

Trump Administration Begins Overhaul of DEI Programs and Dismisses “Book Ban Hoax” in Second Term

In the first week of President Donald Trump’s second term, the Department of Education (DoEd) initiated sweeping changes, targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and dismantling what it labeled the “Biden’s Book Ban Hoax.” Following an executive order from Trump aimed at curbing DEI programs across the federal government, as well as new guidance from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the DoEd announced the removal or archiving of hundreds of DEI-related guidance documents, training materials, and reports. These resources were taken down from public-facing platforms, and employees leading DEI efforts were placed on paid administrative leave.

“These actions are in line with President Trump’s ongoing commitment to end illegal discrimination and wasteful spending across the federal government. They are the first step in reorienting the agency toward prioritizing meaningful learning ahead of divisive ideology in our schools,” the department stated.

One of the most significant actions was the elimination of the Diversity & Inclusion Council, originally established by an executive order during President Barack Obama’s administration. Trump rescinded that order and replaced it with a new directive titled “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing.” This directive also led to the dissolution of the Employee Engagement Diversity Equity Inclusion Accessibility Council (EEDIAC) within the Office for Civil Rights (OCR).

Additionally, the DoEd canceled DEI training and service contracts totaling more than $2.6 million, withdrew the agency’s Equity Action Plan, and identified over 200 DEI-related web pages for removal. These pages, according to the department, “housed DEI resources and encouraged schools and institutions of higher education to promote or endorse harmful ideological programs.” The DoEd noted that it will continue reviewing programs to identify any remaining initiatives advancing what it described as a divisive DEI agenda. The department expressed concern over programs that might use “coded or imprecise language to disguise their activity.” “These review efforts will continue as the Department works to end discrimination based on race and the use of harmful race stereotypes, both within the agency and throughout America’s education system,” the Department of Education said.

Addressing the “Biden’s Book Ban Hoax”

In another significant move, the DoEd addressed and dismissed what it referred to as “Biden’s Book Ban Hoax.” Under the Biden administration, debates over school library content intensified, with parents and conservatives raising concerns about inappropriate or explicit materials. While critics framed these efforts as “book banning,” parents and local school boards argued for more control over curriculum and library materials. On January 20, the incoming OCR leadership began reviewing pending “book banning” complaints. The department concluded that “books are not being ‘banned,’ but…school districts, in consultation with parents and community stakeholders, have established commonsense processes by which to evaluate and remove age-inappropriate materials.”

As part of this effort, the DoEd’s OCR dismissed 11 complaints alleging that the removal of certain books created a hostile environment for students. The department called these claims “meritless” and based on “a dubious legal theory.” By January 24, the OCR had rescinded all guidance supporting the theory that removing inappropriate books could violate civil rights laws. The office also dismissed six additional complaints and ended the role of “book ban coordinator,” which had been created to investigate local school districts’ decisions regarding library materials.

“Because this is a question of parental and community judgment, not civil rights, OCR has no role in these matters,” the department asserted in a press release. Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of local control over education. “The department adheres to the deeply rooted American principle that local control over public education best allows parents and teachers alike to assess the educational needs of their children and communities,” Trainor said.

He continued, “Parents and school boards have broad discretion to fulfill that important responsibility. These decisions will no longer be second-guessed by the Office for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education.” The actions taken by Trump’s Department of Education mark a sharp shift in federal education policy. They signal an effort to reduce federal oversight and promote local decision-making in education systems across the nation. Trump’s actions also seek to dismantle DEI programs throughout the federal government, including the Department of Education.

What are your thoughts on DEI? Do you think America should abandon this ideology? As always, let us know down below in the comments!