Mandating Bias: The Policy-Driven Assault on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access (DEIA)

In his recent address to Congress, President Donald Trump made it clear that his administration is waging an all-out war against a wide variety of policies — and opinions — he views as “woke” or part of diversity, equity, inclusion, and access. Declaring that “our country will be woke no longer,” he framed efforts to maintain racial and gender equity as a direct threat to national progress, doubling down on his administration’s aggressive dismantling of these programs across federal agencies, government contracting, and education.

Trump’s attacks are not about protecting fairness or restoring so-called ‘merit’ — they’re about rolling back hard-won civil rights gains and entrenching systemic inequities. This is particularly alarming for our community of Asian Americans, who have long fought for equal access to education, fair labor practices, and civil rights protections. From the fight against the Chinese Exclusion Act to the landmark civil rights victories that strengthened protections against workplace discrimination, Asian American communities have long been on the front lines of these struggles and will be among those directly affected by the Trump administration’s harmful agenda.

However, we must understand that rolling back diversity, equity, inclusion, and access isn’t just a setback for marginalized communities or the so-called “woke” — it’s a loss for everyone. It means fewer workplace protections, stagnant wages, and disappearing opportunities for career advancement. It means parents struggling without paid leave, students losing access to scholarships, and workers facing unchecked discrimination. It means gender-inclusive bathrooms disappearing, accessibility measures being stripped away, and public spaces becoming less welcoming for all. When fairness, opportunity, and inclusion are eroded, it doesn’t just impact a few — it weakens the foundation of a just and thriving society.

This fight isn’t about politics; it’s about ensuring that everyone — regardless of who they are — has the chance to live, work, and succeed with dignity. Because make no mistake: this is not just a rollback of policy — it’s an attempt to erase decades of civil rights progress, reinforcing systems that have long exclusively benefited privileged white Americans at the expense of everyone else. And we cannot let that happen.

In this blog, we will break down:

• How Trump’s executive orders threaten the rights of all Americans
• What Asian Americans Advancing Justice — AAJC is doing to fight back and protect these fundamental rights

Understanding the Recent Executive Orders

In his first days back in office, Trump issued a series of executive orders (EOs) aimed at dismantling diversity, equity, inclusion, and access programs at every level of government and beyond.

How Trump’s Executive Orders Threaten Us All

It’s clear that Trump’s executive orders aim to dismantle diversity, equity, inclusion, and access at every level of government, employment, and education and notably, his administration has refused to define what it considers to be “DEIA,” has failed to provide any formal guidance, and even declined to explain its interpretation in federal court when pressed. This deliberate vagueness is not accidental — it is a strategic effort to create confusion, chill advocacy, and justify sweeping rollbacks that extend far beyond what most people typically understand diversity, equity, inclusion, and access to encompass.

By refusing to define diversity, equity, inclusion, and access, the administration has created an environment where fear and uncertainty will drive decisions. Agencies, companies, universities, and nonprofits are being forced to second-guess whether long-standing programs, scholarships, and initiatives could suddenly be deemed illegal. This isn’t just about rolling back training sessions or hiring goals — this is about dismantling the infrastructure that has allowed so many historically excluded individuals access to opportunity, resources, and dignity.

Without clear guidance, institutions are now under enormous pressure to self-censor, preemptively erasing anything that even resembles a diversity, equity, inclusion, and access effort to avoid legal or financial consequences. That means:

• Universities reconsidering or canceling mentorship programs, fellowships, and scholarships aimed at underrepresented students for fear they could be seen as violating a vague new federal standard.
• Employers scrapping diversity hiring pipelines and leadership development programs — not because they’re illegal, but because they worry about being targeted for investigation or losing federal contracts.
• State and local governments rolling back language access services, disability accommodations, and other equity-driven policies because they fear funding cuts or political retaliation.
• Public schools and libraries quietly pulling books, removing lessons on systemic inequality, and restricting student-led organizations that focus on diversity or identity-based advocacy.
• Community organizations and advocacy groups losing grants or being excluded from government partnerships simply because their work promotes inclusion, equity, or access.

This attack on diversity, equity, inclusion, and access is centered on the very ability to acknowledge and address inequity in any form. By weaponizing uncertainty, the administration is effectively forcing institutions to police themselves, ensuring that anything remotely associated with diversity, equity, inclusion, and access disappears — not by legal mandate, but by fear-induced compliance.

This is the chilling effect of Trump’s executive orders: an America where the progress we’ve fought for is not just rolled back, but erased entirely.

Asian Americans Advancing Justice — AAJC Is Fighting Back Against Trump’s Attack on DEIA

As far as we are concerned, the Trump administration has launched an all-out assault and we refuse to let this go unchallenged.

On February 3, Asian Americans Advancing Justice — AAJC, in partnership with Democracy Forward, were the first to file a federal lawsuit to stop these dangerous executive orders from taking effect. We were joined by a coalition of impacted institutions and advocates, including: the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education, the American Association of University Professors, Restaurant Opportunities Centers United, and the Mayor and City of Baltimore, Maryland.

We were thrilled by the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland’s decision on February 21 to issue a preliminary nationwide injunction on President Trump’s executive orders titled, “Ending Radical Government DEIA Programs and Preferencing,” and “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity” (collectively the “Anti-DEIA Executive Orders”).

Our lawsuit makes it clear:

1. Trump’s executive orders violate constitutional protections on free speech, equal opportunity, and due process.
2. They unlawfully interfere with federal grants and contracts, undoing long-standing employment protections that promote fairness in hiring and funding distribution.
3. They silence educators, city leaders, and advocates whose work to create equitable opportunities is now under attack.

For more details, read the full legal challenge:
📄 Full Lawsuit Document

The Fight for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access Is Far From Over — But We Are Ready

The nationwide injunction is just the beginning. We are fully prepared to see this fight through with a multi-pronged legal, policy, and public advocacy strategy. The future of our nation — one we have tirelessly fought to shape with justice, equity, and opportunity — hangs in the balance. And we refuse to let our progress slip away.

But we cannot do this alone. While AAJC is working alongside fearless clients, tireless advocates, and committed organizations, this fight requires all of us to speak up. Trump is banking on fear to silence our voices — we cannot let him succeed. America’s strength lies in its diversity, and every American deserves equity, inclusion, and access. Any attempt to strip away these rights is not just unjust — it is un-American.

With decades of experience defending civil rights through litigation, policy advocacy, and strategic coalition-building, Asian Americans Advancing Justice — AAJC is committed to protecting diversity, equity, inclusion, and access at every level.