Starting in late January, the Department of Defense is moving to eliminate Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility programs following President Trump’s Executive Orders, issued on January 20. Titled “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing,” these mandates direct federal agencies to terminate DEI-related contracts and grants. The Office of Personnel Management followed with guidance on January 21, 2025, instructing agencies to shut down DEIA offices and submit compliance reports.

On January 28, 2025, the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense issued a memorandum to military branches and defense agencies mandating the immediate cancellation, amendment, or termination of solicitations and contracts containing DEIA requirements. The memo also requires agencies to report DEIA-related contracts and any attempts to obscure DEIA connections in contract descriptions by February 21. Contractors and federal fund recipients should expect rapid agency actions in response to these changes.

In quick summary, President Trump’s Executive Order directs federal agencies to:

• Shudder DEIA offices
• Report DEIA-related contracts to OPM
• Submit plans for workforce reductions in DEIA offices
• Terminate DEI and environmental justice contracts and grants within 60 days. OPM’s guidance requires agencies to list all personnel positions or contract descriptions that were altered since November 2024, to conceal DEIA ties.  

The DoD memo directly instructs contracting officers to:

• Cancel solicitations and terminate contracts containing DEIA-related provisions  
• Partially terminate contracts where necessary to remove DEIA requirements  
• Apply these directives to contracts executed through assisted acquisition authorities, affecting non-DoD agencies working on DoD-related efforts

Further Content:

nbcnews.com/data-graphics/tracking-trumps-executive-orders-rcna189571