Tag

#DEI

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs within federal agencies and institutions. Incidents involve executive orders dismantling DEI offices, terminating DEI employees, and rolling back anti-discrimination protections under the pretense of opposing DEI.

2 incidents

Grade 2 of 5: Major Abuse of Power

Coercion of Universities: Funding Freezes, Research Cuts, and Demands for Political Compliance

Billions in funding frozen or canceled to coerce universities into political compliance, with demands for protest suppression, admissions reform, and 'academic receivership' of specific departments. Columbia capitulated with a $221 million settlement; Harvard resisted and won a court order restoring $2.2 billion. NIH research funding was cut 24%.

Grade 2 of 5: Major Abuse of Power

DOGE-Directed Elimination of Federal DEI Programs and Mass Firings of DEI Workers

Executive Order 14151 directed elimination of all federal DEI programs. DOGE implemented a three-phase purge, firing thousands of workers — including many who had no current DEI role — and in later court depositions DOGE staffers described using ChatGPT to flag humanities grants as DEI. A December 2025 class-action lawsuit alleges the purge targeted minorities, women, and LGBTQ+ employees.