Alabama's law banning state funding for DEI offices and initiatives was signed into law last year. However, institutions changed the names of their DEI departments and the titles of those in charge.
State agencies, local boards of education, and public colleges and universities scrambled to make those changes before the Oct. 1, 2024 deadline, but meritocracy continues to be a hindrance to hiring based on race and background.
Practices remain in place in some of Alabama's largest institutions and employers. However, that could change with President Donald Trump's sweeping executive order protecting all Americans from discrimination and civil rights violations.
The order covers federal agencies, major corporations, financial institutions, the medical industry, large commercial airlines, law enforcement agencies and institutions of higher education. In his executive order, Trump called DEI practices "dangerous, demeaning, and immoral."
"Illegal DEI and DEIA policies not only violate the text and spirit of our longstanding Federal civil-rights laws, they also undermine our national unity, as they deny, discredit, and undermine the traditional American values of hard work, excellence, and individual achievement in favor of an unlawful, corrosive, and pernicious identity-based spoils system," the order states. "Hardworking Americans who deserve a shot at the American Dream should not be stigmatized, demeaned, or shut out of opportunities because of their race or sex."
UAB has long supported DEI practices to grow its diverse population and give opportunities to employees and students based on their "identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, cultures, socioeconomic backgrounds and beliefs." In fact, the school has celebrated its DEI efforts and included recognitions, including the DEI Impact Award, the Dean's Award for DEI, and the Excellence in Diversity Award. UAB has also been recognized nationally for its efforts.
According to the school's newly released 2024-2028 strategic plan, "UAB is committed to fostering a diverse, respectful and inclusive campus environment that values all community members."
"The wide-ranging makeup of our students, faculty, staff and patients enriches the learning, work and care environments and is reflective of the communities we serve," the plan states. "UAB serves a diverse population and aims to create a respectful and inclusive environment, including through education, training and awareness programs."
Following the enactment of the Alabama law, UAB changed its DEI office name to the Office of Access and Engagement and kept the same leadership. While Alabama's law went into great detail to provide guidance for institutions and prohibited institutions from promoting divisive concepts, those efforts have seemingly continued.
Trump's executive order went to the next level to end "illegal preferences and discrimination."
"It is the policy of the United States to protect the civil rights of all Americans and to promote individual initiative, excellence, and hard work," the order states. "I therefore order all executive departments and agencies (agencies) to terminate all discriminatory and illegal preferences, mandates, policies, programs, activities, guidance, regulations, enforcement actions, consent orders, and requirements. I further order all agencies to enforce our longstanding civil-rights laws and to combat illegal private-sector DEI preferences, mandates, policies, programs, and activities."
Trump also revoked five previous executive actions promoting DEI policies. Three of those orders were signed by President Barack Obama in 2011, 2014 and 2016, and one was signed by President Bill Clinton in 1994.
He also revoked President Lyndon B. Johnson's 1965 executive order requiring affirmative action to ensure federal contractors and subcontractors employed certain applicants.
The new executive order requires programs to cease promoting diversity. Federal contractors and subcontractors can no longer consider race, color, sex, sexual preference, religion, or national origin in hiring practices.
Going a step further, Trump ordered the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), with the assistance of the Attorney General, to review and revise processes, directives and guidance "under whatever name they may appear."
"Terminate all 'diversity,' ‘equity,' 'equitable decision-making,' 'equitable deployment of financial and technical assistance,' ‘advancing equity,' and like mandates, requirements, programs, or activities, as appropriate," the order states.
The Trump administration will provide guidance to all state and local educational agencies that receive federal funding or participate in federal student loan assistance within 120 days.
The order also encourages the private sector to end DEI policies and practices instead of sticking to government entities. It directs the Attorney General to submit recommendations within 120 days on how to enforce civil rights laws in the private sector.
The order does not apply to employment or contracting aimed at hiring U.S. veterans.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email erica.thomas@1819news.com.
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