This week, the newly-sworn U.S. President Donald Trump overturned a long-standing executive order that had been in place for 60 years, protecting workers from discrimination in the workplace. The order, known as Executive Order 11246, required federal contractors to hire workers without discrimination based on gender identity, sexual orientation, race, colour, religion, sex, or national origin. By revoking this order, the Trump administration has removed these protections for workers employed by companies that do business with the government.

The U.S. Labor Department had been responsible for ensuring that the protections in place under the executive order were followed, especially through a contracting standards office.

In a memo released on Wednesday, the White House stated that the new order aims to "protect the civil rights of all Americans" by ending what it called "radical DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) preferencing" in federal contracting. It also directs federal agencies to focus on addressing discrimination in the private sector.

The executive order revokes the need foraffirmative actionand lifts the prohibition on discrimination for federal contractors based on race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

The executive order signed by President Trump also reversed actions taken by former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, which aimed to promote diversity and inclusion in hiring within the federal government.

In his statement, Trump argued that diversity initiatives "violate the text and spirit of our longstanding Federal civil-rights laws" and harm national unity. He claimed these efforts undermine American values like hard work, excellence, and individual achievement, replacing them with an identity-based system that he described as "unlawful, corrosive, and pernicious."

What is the Equal Employment Opportunity Act of 1965?

The Equal Employment Opportunity Act of 1965, signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson, was designed to ensure that women, ethnic minorities, and other underrepresented groups had equal chances in the workplace. It banned discrimination based on factors like race, sex, religion, age, disability, national origin, and marital status.

This law, which came a year after the Civil Rights Act of 1964, also applied to federal contractors, working to make sure workplaces were fair and inclusive.

However, President Trump’s recent executive order repealed this Act. He reasons that it was necessary to stopillegal DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) discrimination and preferences.The order also applies to the private sector, instructing government agencies to enforce civil rights laws and get rid of any unfair DEI policies in private companies.

This action reflects Trump’s broader vision of a "merit-based" and "colourblind" society, a goal he plans to continue pushing for if he is re-elected.