Ayanna Pressley Proposes Codifying DEI in the Federal Government

Trump administration policies have brought us to the point where we could return to the America of segregated bathrooms, said the National Urban League’s president at Rep. Ayanna Pressley’s unveiling of her Equity in Government Act on Wednesday. 

According to the Massachusetts Democrat’s website, the bill would codify into law key parts of President Joe Biden’s Executive Orders 13985 and 14091 that promoted diversity, equity, and inclusion policies throughout government, “which [President] Donald Trump revoked on his first day in office—to ensure that federal agencies continue their work to promote equal opportunity for all, including people of color, women, rural communities, individuals with disabilities, and others that have been systemically excluded from participating fully in economic, social, and civic life.” 

Pressley praised her supporters as she accused Trump of being against what she calls “marginalized” or minority communities: “You are unafraid to stand again to protect marginalized communities who are under assault of Donald Trump and his Republican co-conspirators. … [The] Trump administration’s unconscionable attack on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives is an affront to all of us, and just the latest attempt to roll back gains made by marginalized communities.”  

She continued, “This is truly anti-blackness. … So, I want to speak directly: This is resegregation.”  

“To smear diversity, equity, and inclusion is to smear the values upon which this country was formed,” National Urban League President Marc Morial said at the press conference. He then spoke to the reporters in the crowd, saying, “I hope you all report on this,” before asserting that public polling shows support for DEI initiatives.  

Earlier this year, a poll by Rasmussen Reports found 53% of likely U.S. voters say they “approve of President Donald Trump’s decision to end diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies in the federal government, including 39% who say they strongly approve. Meanwhile, 42% say they disapprove.” 

“This is a racist, sexist, ableist, anti-LGBTQ policy agenda designed to exacerbate social and economic inequality,” said Robert Weissman of the Trump administration’s policies at the news conference. Weissman is the co-president of Public Citizen, a nonprofit liberal consumer rights advocacy group. 

“Impacts of these policies are harmful for all of us,” he said.  

Juan Proaño, CEO of the League of United Latin American Citizens, added: “DEI is not a buzzword, it’s a lifeline.”