UK HR professionals are keen to know if Donald Trump’s election as US President today will have an impact on UK policies relating to diversity, equity and inclusivity.
The FBI’s DEI office has closed, according to reports from Washington, in anticipation of Trump’s arrival at the White House. Trump demanded that the FBI “preserve all documents, records and information”.
“Never opened, and if so, it should have closed a long time ago. Why are they closing a day before the Inauguration a new Administration? Trump stated on his Truth Social platform that the reason was CORRUPTION.
Trump called DEI programs “anti-white racism”, “un-American” and “anti-white”.
A federal judge blocked the executive order Trump signed at the end of his presidential term, in 2020. The ban banned diversity training for government agencies, contractors, and institutions receiving federal funding. However, the administration faced lawsuits claiming First Amendment violations.
He has promised to issue a number of executive orders during his first day in office, including an order that would ban DEI policies within the military. Experts predict that he will use an executive order in order to ban federal funding for schools, other institutions and schools that offer DEI programmes.
He also said he would introduce strict anti-immigration policy within days.
Before Trump’s second presidential term, many employers have already reduced their diversity programmes.
McDonald’s also made a statement on January, saying that it will retire goals set in 2021 to encourage leaders to enhance DEI despite the controversy surrounding sexual harassment.
Elon Musk, the billionaire tech-founder who will lead a Department of Government Efficiency (DGE), has announced that he plans to close down DEI government initiatives. He even blames diversity schemes for the Los Angeles fires. Elon Musk said on his X platform: “DEI is a death sentence”.
Bridge Partners, an American recruitment firm, found that in 2024, two-thirds (67%) of American companies still prioritized DEI programs, down from 77% one year earlier.
Apple’s board recently asked its investors to reject a proposal that would have ended the DEI programs after being advised by a conservative think-tank to do so.
Charlie O’Brien is the head of people for HR software firm Breathe HR. She hopes UK employers will “understand the shortsightedness of their US cousins, who are driven by President-elect Trump’s anti DEI rhetoric, as opposed to sound logic”.
There is so much evidence that supports the promotion of DE&I at work. She added that research shows that diverse teams are better at solving problems and businesses with more gender and ethnic diversity tend to be more profitable.
“Plus, DE&I programmes can help prevent discrimination: an obligation that British employers must uphold.” Diversity, equity, and inclusion should remain a top priority for UK business, despite the short-sighted actions of large corporations in the US.
Khyati Sunderam, CEO at AI-hiring company Applied, warned that there could be further DEI cuts on the horizon.
She said that companies cited a caution about more conservative policies which could lead to the perception of DEI programs as giving unfair preferential treatment for some groups.
It remains to be determined whether or not the changes in the legal landscape will make it across the pond. The DEI effort at home is also buried by similar sentiment. This is an indication of a larger problem.
When minority workers are afraid of being viewed as a “token hire” or a “lawsuit risk”, it is a sign that DEI programs themselves have failed.
“We should create equal opportunity for all employees to succeed. Now more than ever before, both US and UK businesses must put their focus on this. They should start by eradicating biases that prevent hiring teams to assess job candidates objectively. Diversity will follow naturally for those who take action.”
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