Impacts of New DEI Executive Order Extend Beyond Federal Government to Private Sector

Wiley – President Trump issued an Executive Order (EO) titled “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity.” This EO raises significant new considerations for companies across the United States regarding their diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEI or DEIA) programs, as it targets the elimination of “illegal DEI and DEIA policies” beyond federal employees, contractors, and grantees to “encourage” the private sector to eliminate DEI programs that constitute illegal discrimination and preferences.