In a bold move that has sent shockwaves through the federal bureaucracy, the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) has announced it will cease all activities tied to “special observances” such as Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Black History Month, Women’s History Month, Juneteenth, LGBTQ Pride Month, and Holocaust Remembrance Day. This action follows a recent executive order issued by President Donald Trump, aimed at dismantling Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs within the federal government. The DIA’s decision marks a significant shift in federal policy, aligning with Trump’s longstanding campaign to combat divisiveness and restore merit-based hiring practices.

According to the memo from the DIA, 11 observances have now been banned, and all employee affinity groups and networking events have been placed on hold. This directive is part of a broader initiative to end government-sponsored DEI programs that many conservatives have long criticized as discriminatory and wasteful. The Trump administration has made it clear that these programs, which often favor one group over others, are anathema to the principles of fairness and equality that the nation was founded upon.

The Justice Department also took steps in this direction, announcing last week the closure of its own DEI programs. The department’s memo condemned such initiatives, stating that they were not only divisive but had also squandered taxpayer funds and perpetuated unjust discrimination. The move has been applauded by critics of DEI, who argue that such programs divide Americans based on race, rather than uniting them under the banner of individual achievement and merit.

President Trump’s latest executive order, signed on January 22, continues his mission to rid the federal government of DEI mandates. The order, titled “PROTECTING CIVIL RIGHTS AND EXPANDING INDIVIDUAL OPPORTUNITY,” takes a firm stance against what the White House describes as “radical DEI preferencing” in federal contracting. The order’s primary aim is to “end illegal DEI practices” and “combat private sector discrimination,” sending a clear message to all federal agencies that prioritizing race or gender over competency will no longer be tolerated.

The White House’s statement highlighted that this historic move is grounded in the Constitution’s promise of colorblind equality. It emphasizes that the American government should reward individuals based on their abilities, not their race, gender, or identity. Trump’s executive order is a call for a return to individual dignity, hard work, and excellence, values that the administration believes are vital to American greatness.

The White House also issued a sharp rebuke of the Biden administration’s “equity” mandates, which have been widely seen as pushing a divisive agenda that undermines merit-based achievement. The statement decried the rise of DEI in both the federal government and the private sector, arguing that these programs encourage authoritarianism and foster intergroup hostility, rather than promoting unity and collaboration.

In a sweeping move to address the overreach of DEI programs in education and corporate America, the Trump administration also announced its commitment to addressing unlawful admissions practices in schools and biased hiring policies in private companies. The goal, according to the White House, is to ensure that every American, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to rise based on their hard work, competence, and determination.

President Trump’s latest executive order is a clear message that the era of divisive, race-based policies is over. By eliminating DEI programs and restoring meritocracy, the Trump administration is reaffirming its commitment to a colorblind society where individual excellence is celebrated and every person is judged by their abilities, not by their identity.