Just two days into his term, President Donald Trump is making waves in Washington, with the latest Fox News poll showing voters backing him. On Monday, President Trump signed an executive order ending federal DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) programs and initiatives.
Almost one-third (29%) of voters agreed that it is “very important” that President Trump focus on keeping DEI out of government. By party, 44% of Republicans, 16% of Democrats, and 24% of independents want the president to repeal the federal DEI initiative.
for this voteFox News sampled 1,015 registered voters who responded through an online survey link they received via landline, cell phone or text message. Phone numbers were randomly selected using a probability proportional to size method. This means that the phone number proportionally represents the number of voters in every region of the state. Results have a margin of error of ±3 percentage points.
President Trump signs documents as he issues executive orders and pardons for the January 6 defendants in the Oval Office of the White House on Inauguration Day, January 20, 2025, in Washington, DC. (Reuters/Carlos Barria)
“Individual dignity, hard work, and excellence are the foundations of American greatness,” the White House said in a statement about the order. “Men and women should have the opportunity to reach their full potential through hard work, personal initiative, and ability. In America, excellence, grit, and determination are our strengths.”
The federal Office of Personnel Management notified agency and department heads on Tuesday that they must begin taking steps to close all DEI offices and provide paid leave to public employees in those offices by Wednesday evening.
White House OPM orders all DEI offices to begin closing by end of day Wednesday
President Trump is in the Oval Office of the White House on January 20, 2025, holding an executive order and the document from the day he issued the January 6 pardon for the defendants. (Reuters/Carlos Barria)
President Trump’s victory, especially in the popular vote, was seen as a complete rejection of DEI and “wokeness” as a whole. One particularly effective ad, with devastating results for Democrats, used the tagline, “Kamala is for them, President Trump is for you.” Many voters cited inflation, rising prices, and cultural issues as reasons for supporting President Trump.
President Trump targets gender identity and diversity with executive orders. (Getty Images/AP)
Is the era of awakening over?
On June 25, 2021, just over six months after taking office, then-President Joe Biden signed an executive order to “strengthen the federal workforce by promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.”
The 2021 order states, “To further promote equity within the federal government, this order recognizes that it is the policy of my administration to develop a workforce that takes full advantage of the nation's diversity.” “It is to be established.'' “As the nation’s largest employer, the federal government must become a model of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, where all employees are treated with dignity and respect.”
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DEI became a focus of America's culture wars in 2020 following the death of George Floyd, sparking a national conversation about race and the months-long riots. Former President Biden won the election next November and will sign the executive order just over a year after Floyd's death.
