Trump administration rescinds Jimmy Carter‑era DEI mandates for federal hiring

The Trump administration announced it will end a decades-old court decree that had eliminated a federal job applicant test and imposed diversity hiring requirements. This move follows a shift in the government's interpretation of Civil Rights-era laws to focus on "anti-white racism." The Justice Department stated the decree, originating from a case alleging discrimination against Black and Hispanic applicants, limited federal hiring based on outdated diversity theories. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon claimed the decree hindered the government from hiring top talent based on merit. The Luevano case, settled in 1981, aimed to remedy past discrimination by eliminating a test and establishing special hiring programs. This decree had been in effect for 45 years. The Justice Department recently issued guidelines discouraging recipients of federal funding from participating in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs. These guidelines suggest that anti-discrimination laws apply to DEI initiatives, potentially impacting various educational and media programs. Trump's administration has sought to reverse civil rights progress and undo policies from the Civil Rights Movement. This action aligns with campaign promises to dismantle programs aimed at countering racism against people of color.