DEI Work Is Hard, Not Hopeless, Right Now: Sarah G. Carmichael

“Shock and awe” is President Donald Trump’s strategy for his first 100 days. Where his early orders on diversity, equity and inclusion are concerned, he achieved half a victory: They are awful, but not shocking.

It was all previewed in Project 2025, DEI experts tell me, referring to the far-right blueprint for a second Trump term that he disavowed during his campaign. So they were not surprised by his move to ban DEI at federal government agencies and contractors or even the demand that government workers snitch on each other and report suspected violations.

But they were devastated; infuriated; heartbroken. There’s ...