On February 5, 2025, newly appointed U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a directive targeting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives within private companies and universities.
This move aligns with President Donald Trump‘s recent executive order, which characterizes DEI programs as contrary to federal civil rights laws and detrimental to national unity.
In her memo, Bondi instructed the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division and the Office of Legal Policy to develop strategies to “investigate, eliminate, and penalize” DEI practices in the private sector. She set a deadline of March 1 for these departments to submit recommendations on deterring the use of DEI programs, including proposals for criminal investigations and civil compliance actions against companies deemed to have discriminatory practices.
Bondi’s directive also emphasizes collaboration with the Department of Education to ensure that universities comply with the administration’s stance against DEI initiatives. This includes identifying institutions with significant DEI programs and determining appropriate enforcement actions.
These actions have prompted legal challenges. A coalition, including the American Association of University Professors and the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education, filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, alleging that the executive order is unconstitutionally vague and infringes upon First Amendment rights.
Legal experts have criticized Bondi’s directive as an overreach of federal authority. David Glasgow, a lawyer and executive director at the Meltzer Center for Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging at New York University School of Law, described the move as “a shocking and lawless escalation of the bullying approach that this administration has already taken on DE&I issues.” He urged companies to continue their lawful DEI activities and not succumb to intimidation.
As the situation develops, it is anticipated that further legal battles will ensue, with significant implications for DEI programs across the nation.
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