Donald Trump had quite a few executive orders on his first day, but one in particular sent the left into a tizzy.
It was a Trump order, titled “Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs And Preferencing.”
Now confirmed, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth fully backed the order, and numerous DEI-related observations are being ended, and the left is not happy.
Going Overboard
Trump’s order “Each agency, department, or commission head, in consultation with the Attorney General, the Director of OMB, and the Director of OPM, as appropriate, shall take the following actions within sixty days of this order.”
It called to “terminate, to the maximum extent allowed by law, all DEI, DEIA, and ‘environmental justice’ offices and positions (including but not limited to ‘Chief Diversity Officer’ positions); all ‘equity action plans,’ ‘equity’ actions, initiatives, or programs, ‘equity-related’ grants or contracts; and all DEI or DEIA performance requirements for employees, contractors, or grantees.”
As February rolled in, an announcement was made that numerous holidays and programs that were believed to have fallen under the DEI order were being terminated, including MLK Jr. Day and Black History Month.
The media went ballistic, but this was all much ado about nothing.
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) was very specific that programs of “gender ideology” would be cut.
Hegseth did order all “identity months dead,” but at the same time, Trump was signing proclamations for MLK Day and Black History Month.
Hegseth merely wanted the actual job of DoD employees to be the focus, not celebrating these “identity” months.
Ending observation in the Pentagon is far different from ending the holiday, which is how the media portrayed this taking place.
After issuing the order to end observations of such holidays as Black History Month, Women’s History Month, and National Disability Employment Awareness Month, the DoD stated, “We are proud of our warriors and their history, but we will focus on the character of their service instead of their immutable characteristics.”
Trump, however, made it clear, as far as the country itself was concerned, these holidays and observations were still very much in play.
For example, marking the beginning of Black History Month, the Trump proclamation stated, “This National Black History Month, as America prepares to enter a historic Golden Age.
“I want to extend my tremendous gratitude to black Americans for all they have done to bring us to this moment, and for the many future contributions they will make as we advance into a future of limitless possibility under my Administration.”
So, the reports that these observations were ended is complete and utter nonsense.
As far as national observances are considered, they are all still very much in play, but Hegseth wants the DoD to concentrate on defending this nation rather than celebrating observances, so I have no problem at all with this.
This is something we will have to continue to watch, however, because we all know how the Democrats and media work when it comes to stuff like this.