Red states escalate DEI crackdown as Trump-led ideological shift gains ground

FILE – President Donald Trump holds a signed an executive order relating to school discipline policies as Education Secretary Linda McMahon listens in the Oval Office of the White House, April 23, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, file)

Republican-led states are intensifying a sweeping campaign to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, expanding far beyond college campuses and into state and local government agencies.What began as a focused effort against DEI offices in higher education is now morphing into a full-scale ideological reversal, driven in part by President Donald Trump’s deepening antagonism toward the movement.According to an analysis by The Associated Press using Plural’s bill-tracking software, Republican lawmakers have nearly doubled the number of anti-DEI measures passed this year compared to 2023—a year that had already seen a doubling from the previous one. The momentum shows no signs of slowing, particularly as Trump’s executive orders ripple across universities, federal agencies, and schools, regardless of mounting legal challenges.“The federal attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion from the Trump administration have further cleared the path for conservative state legislators,” said Shaun Harper, a professor at the University of Southern California and founder of the National DEI Defense Coalition.“We are seeing the multiplication of the anti-DEI effort literally everywhere,” Harper added.

A blueprint for reversal

The core strategy behind this legislative tidal wave draws heavily from a conservative playbook devised by the Manhattan Institute and the Goldwater Institute. Initially focused on higher education, the four-pronged model advocated eliminating DEI staff, ending mandatory diversity training, banning diversity statements, and prohibiting racial or sexual preferences in admissions and hiring. That blueprint is now being adapted to apply across broader layers of government.“Despite the Trump administration taking action, the states cannot rely on the federal government to root out DEI for them,” said Timothy Minella, senior fellow at the Goldwater Institute.

What DEI set out to do

DEI initiatives have long been established in educational institutions, businesses, and public agencies to create inclusive environments where individuals of varying backgrounds feel seen and supported. These programs often include services tailored to underrepresented groups and may guide admissions or hiring practices to ensure representation.Though the term “DEI” has become politically contentious, a recent AP-NORC poll suggests the public’s opinions are more nuanced. While roughly 4 in 10 Americans support DEI in colleges and universities, only 3 in 10 strongly oppose it. The same poll shows even stronger support for specific components—such as courses on racism and scholarships for students of colour.

Redefining DEI, narrowing the scope

There is no universally accepted definition of DEI, but recent state laws typically focus on identity-based initiatives—particularly those connected to race, ethnicity, and gender. In some states like Oklahoma and Wyoming, legislation narrows DEI to policies that provide differential treatment based on such characteristics.“Diversity, equity and inclusion efforts extend well beyond race, gender, and sexuality, but it has been framed in ways that target those populations and demonize those populations,” said Paulette Granberry Russell, president of the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education.Critics argue that the anti-DEI push is not only limiting institutional missions but also being weaponized to marginalize minority employees. A class-action complaint filed by federal workers alleges that Trump’s executive orders effectively enable the firing of nonwhite and female employees under the guise of eliminating DEI.

State capitols lead the charge

Since 2023, nearly two dozen states have enacted laws or issued executive orders to curtail DEI programming. Newer additions to the list—such as Arkansas, Mississippi, and West Virginia—reflect the geographical spread of the movement. In Missouri, for instance, a provision banning DEI in higher education failed last year but succeeded this time after Republican Governor Mike Kehoe issued an executive order blocking state funding for DEI positions and activities.Tennessee, Wyoming, and West Virginia have gone even further, targeting DEI across both educational institutions and government offices.

Governors double down

The wave of executive actions underscores the political urgency Republican governors are placing on this issue. On his first day in office, West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey banned DEI roles and any preferential treatment based on identity categories. Within 24 hours, Indiana’s Governor Mike Braun followed suit. Kehoe’s Missouri order came shortly thereafter.In Texas, Governor Greg Abbott built on the state’s 2023 legislation by declaring that DEI violates the “colour-blind guarantee” of the Constitution. His executive order described DEI as promoting “new forms of racism” and creating division.

From campus policy to curriculum control

Perhaps the most striking legislative development comes from Idaho. A newly signed law bans DEI programs in higher education and prohibits colleges from requiring DEI-related coursework as a graduation requirement—unless a student is majoring in race or gender studies.The Goldwater Institute hails the legislation as the nation’s first of its kind, calling it the “Freedom from Indoctrination Act,” created in partnership with the conservative legal group Speech First.“Our goal is to get rid of the DEI mandates for general education and programs in order to get a degree,” Minella said.

The road ahead: A political and cultural battleground

With Trump’s political resurgence and conservative states emboldened, the fight over DEI is fast becoming one of the most defining cultural and legislative battlegrounds in American governance. As more states introduce bills modeled on these anti-DEI frameworks, the once-widespread push for institutional equity is being reshaped by an equally organized—and increasingly aggressive—opposition.The question that remains is not just what DEI will look like in the future, but whether its foundational values can withstand the rising tide of political retrenchment.