PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — One of the priorities of the new Trump administration is halting federal diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs. On his first day back in office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order ridding the federal government of DEI measures in its employment practices, union contracts and training policies.
He called DEI efforts wasteful, discriminatory, “illegal and immoral.”
On Thursday at Mother Bethel AME Church in Society Hill, Pennsylvania state Sen. Art Haywood condemned the rollbacks alongside several Philadelphia religious leaders.
“We will not accept this as a standard for the nation and we will do everything we can to organize to make sure those who’ve been historically excluded are included,” said Haywood, who serves parts of Philadelphia and Montgomery counties.
The president said he advocates for a “color-blind” and “merit-based” society, but Haywood said without DEI programs, merit is ignored.
“The main function of DEI is to help those individuals who are making decisions see beyond their experience,” he said.
While he disagrees with the Trump administration’s actions, Haywood takes solace in knowing there are ways to challenge recent executive orders.
“During these times, we gotta maximize the power of state and local governments,” he added. “To now say here in 2025 that inclusion doesn’t count anymore is a terrible statement about the character of the president. I do not take it as a statement about the character of the nation.
“One of the things we’ve got to do is support the organizations, the businesses, the governments that still recognize that inclusion is a high value for them.”
Some companies have taken Trump’s lead and scaled back DEI programs, including Meta, McDonald’s and Walmart. But others, like Costco, Apple and Microsoft, have voiced their support for inclusion practices.