Sweeping Policy Shifts: Trump Administration Targets DEI, Civil Rights Enforcement, and Escalates Deportation Efforts

Washington D.C. – The Trump administration enacted a series of significant policy changes on Thursday, January 23, 2025, dramatically altering the landscape of federal diversity initiatives, civil rights enforcement, and immigration policy. The actions included the revocation of a decades-old executive order prohibiting discrimination by federal contractors, a freeze on new cases within the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, and intensified efforts to prosecute state and local officials deemed resistant to mass deportations.

Revoking the 60-Year-Old Anti-Discrimination Order

A cornerstone of the administration’s efforts on this date was the revocation of a 60-year-old executive order banning hiring discrimination by federal contractors. Signed by then-President Lyndon B. Johnson, the order had served as a foundational element in ensuring equal opportunity in federally funded employment. This move represents a significant step in the administration’s broader campaign against Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives across the federal government and entities doing business with it.

Building on this, the administration escalated its push to dismantle DEI programs internally. On Wednesday, federal employees were reportedly ordered to report colleagues who refuse to comply with directives aimed at purging DEI initiatives. The order included explicit threats of “adverse consequences” for those failing to report non-compliant colleagues. This followed action taken the previous day, Tuesday, when employees specifically working in federal DEI offices were placed on immediate administrative leave.

Justice Department Shifts Civil Rights Priorities

Simultaneously, the Justice Department announced a critical shift in its approach to civil rights enforcement. An order was issued freezing all new cases within its Civil Rights Division. Furthermore, the department stated that ongoing cases, including significant police reform agreements in major cities across the country, would now be subject to the discretion of individual judges rather than being driven primarily by departmental priorities or mandates.

This move drew swift condemnation from civil rights advocates. The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law characterized the action as “unprecedented” and expressed deep concern about its potential impact on the protection of civil rights and the enforcement of existing laws.

Intensified Focus on Deportations and Immigration Enforcement

In parallel developments, the Justice Department also issued a directive ordering federal officials to prosecute state and local officials who are seen as resisting the Trump administration’s plans for mass deportations. This order signals an increased federal willingness to use legal means to compel cooperation from sub-national governments on immigration enforcement.

The administration’s aggressive stance on deportations is also facing legal challenges. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), acting on behalf of the organization Make the Road New York, filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s plan to expand fast-track deportations. The lawsuit specifically targets a process that disproportionately affects immigrants unable to prove continuous U.S. presence for at least two years, arguing that it denies them essential due legal process.

Related Legislative Action

Amidst these executive actions and enforcement directives, both houses of Congress also passed the final version of the Laken Riley Act on Thursday. While distinct from the executive branch’s policy changes detailed above, the passage of this legislation underscores the heightened focus on immigration and related issues within the federal government on this date.

Taken together, the actions on January 23, 2025, represent a concerted effort by the Trump administration to fundamentally reshape federal policy regarding diversity, equity, civil rights enforcement, and immigration, signaling a significant departure from established norms and priorities in these critical areas.