The mounting attacks against diversity, equity, and inclusion (“DEI”) have relied on distortions of the meaning of DEI. It’s important that civil rights advocates set the record straight. 

As ReNika Moore of the ACLU explains, programs labeled as DEI “encompass a broad range of lawful initiatives that create fairer workplaces and schools.” DEI initiatives aim to ensure that opportunities aren’t limited based on race, ethnicity, disability, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Examples of DEI initiatives include everything from fair hiring processes to corporate sponsorships to employee-led affinity groups, among others. 

Contrary to the misconstruction that DEI is somehow discriminatory, DEI initiatives were created to counter systemic discrimination and eliminate barriers that never should have existed in the first place. DEI policies allow companies and workplaces to comply with anti-discrimination laws that have been on the books for decades. 

Here are three reliable resources that you can use to build your own understanding of DEI initiatives and the recent attacks against DEI:

1. ACLU explainer of DEI and Trump’s anti-DEI Executive Orders: https://www.aclu.org/news/racial-justice/trumps-executive-orders-rolling-back-dei-and-accessibility-efforts-explained
2. The Guardian explainer of DEI, DEI rollbacks, and global implications of rollbacks: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jan/24/diversity-backlash-what-is-dei-and-why-is-trump-opposed-to-it 
3. Pew Research Center 2023 study finding that majority of U.S. workers say DEI at work is a good thing: https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2023/05/17/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-the-workplace/ 

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