The Trump administration is escalating efforts to eliminate “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion” programs.

Last Monday, Politico reported that the administration is proposing to change requirements within the General Services Administration so that any entity hoping to receive federal dollars via things like grants, loans, or insurance, would need to fall in line with federal standards that ban DEI based policies and programs. 

According to the notice, over 220,000 entities would be impacted by this change.

It’s the latest in a long line of actions by the Trump Administration to remove Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programming and policies from both public organizations and private companies. 

For many, the moves have been a retreat from the goal of creating more inclusive education and work spaces.

Some argue that DEI programs were flawed to begin with.

Guest:

Dr. Ralina L. Joseph is Vice Provost of Inclusive Excellence and Professor of African American Studies at UCLA. Her newest book is “Racial Exhaustion: how to move through racism in the wake of DEI”. 

Related stories:
Trump’s under-the-radar plan to crack down on DEI - Politico
The University of Michigan Doubled Down on D.E.I. What Went Wrong? - NYT
Former Goldman Sachs CEO says DEI programs are ‘counterproductive,’ arguing ‘you’re branding the people in that program’ - Fortune

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

The Trump administration is escalating efforts to eliminate &ldquo;Diversity, Equity and Inclusion&rdquo; programs.
Last Monday, <a href="https://www.politico.com/newsletters/weekly-education/2026/03/09/trumps-under-the-radar-plan-to-crack-down-on-dei-00818371">Politico </a>reported that the administration is proposing to change requirements within the General Services Administration so that any entity hoping to receive federal dollars via things like grants, loans, or insurance, would need to fall in line with federal standards that <a href="https://civilrights.org/resource/anti-deia-eos/">ban </a>DEI based policies and programs.&nbsp;
According to the notice, over 220,000 entities would be impacted by this change.
It&rsquo;s the latest in a long line of actions by the Trump Administration to remove Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programming and policies from both public organizations and private companies.&nbsp;
For many, the moves have been a retreat from the goal of creating more inclusive education and work spaces.
Some argue that DEI programs were flawed to begin with.
Guest:
Dr. Ralina L. Joseph is Vice Provost of Inclusive Excellence and Professor of African American Studies at UCLA. Her newest book is &ldquo;<a href="https://nyupress.org/9781479840007/racial-exhaustion/">Racial Exhaustion: how to move through racism in the wake of DEI</a>&rdquo;.&nbsp;
Related stories:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.politico.com/newsletters/weekly-education/2026/03/09/trumps-under-the-radar-plan-to-crack-down-on-dei-00818371">Trump&rsquo;s under-the-radar plan to crack down on DEI - Politico</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/16/magazine/dei-university-michigan.html">The University of Michigan Doubled Down on D.E.I. What Went Wrong? - NYT</a></li>
<li><a href="https://fortune.com/2026/03/10/former-goldman-sachs-ceo-lloyd-blankfein-diversity-equity-inclusion-initiatives-donald-trump/">Former Goldman Sachs CEO says DEI programs are &lsquo;counterproductive,&rsquo; arguing &lsquo;you&rsquo;re branding the people in that program&rsquo; - Fortune</a></li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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The Trump administration is escalating efforts to eliminate “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion” programs. For many, the moves have been a retreat from the goal of creating more inclusive education and work spaces. Some argue that DEI programs were flawed to begin with.