Staff Reports
The Left is strangely quiet following the recent executive order from President Donald Trump, which effectively smoothed the path for the dismantling of federal Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs. Simultaneously, every federal DEI officer has been placed on paid leave, and rather than an uproar, the Democrats on Capitol Hill seem to be preoccupied with a different battle: attempting to derail Pete Hegseth’s nomination as Secretary of Defense. It’s a notable turn of events, as the Left typically has a knee-jerk reaction to anything that remotely resembles an attack on their beloved social justice initiatives.
Journalists have spotted a curious lack of outrage among Democrats regarding this significant rollback of DEI initiatives. Perhaps they are hesitating to wade into the fray because, deep down, they know that these programs have turned into costly, bureaucratic monsters that don’t deliver on their lofty promises. The mainstream media, usually quick to label Trump as a racist, has failed to muster the same energy for this decision, and there’s a general sense of fatigue from years of shrieking without results. When it comes to DEI, the Left’s usual protests just aren’t happening. The streets that once echoed with chants of “Black Lives Matter” seem eerily quiet.
Democrats and BLM attacked and protested Trump as racist. After Tuesday's anti-DEI Executive Order? No. In 2017, 2018, and 2019. Since Tuesday, Democrats have been weirdly quiet. The reason is because, deep down, they know DEI is wrong, and that most Americans really hate it. pic.twitter.com/nDOVGFh7Gu
— Michael Shellenberger (@shellenberger) January 23, 2025
The media’s lack of enthusiastic criticism for the anti-DEI action is striking when compared to past reactions. From 2015 onwards, any comment or policy introduced by Trump was met with a barrage of accusations of racism, with progressives generating a hysterical narrative around his every move—from immigration to public health. Though the media has published criticisms of this latest order, they don’t even seem to be trying. In contrast, the fervor that followed events such as the unfortunate killing of George Floyd highlighted a moment where DEI initiatives were fervently championed and celebrated by corporate America. Back then, major corporations promised billions for social justice, but now, there’s a silence that seems to underline a collective acknowledgment of the program’s flaws.
The absence of noteworthy protests or Democrat outcries stands out in stark relief to the uproar that accompanied past actions. The DEI sector, despite employing loads of personnel and generating vast economic activity, appears to be as popular as a cold cup of coffee on a Monday morning. A reasonable person might wonder why there hasn’t been more vocal dissent against Trump’s order, especially considering the years of effort poured into erecting the DEI framework.
Americans generally do support efforts to combat discrimination, but there’s a growing realization that DEI programs often go too far. Too many have come to see these initiatives as mechanisms that sidestep meritocracy in favor of an ideology that breeds mediocrity at the expense of competence. Case in point: the chaos witnessed during the Los Angeles fires, where DEI agendas hindered the effectiveness of first responders. The priorities seemed woefully misaligned, leading to preventable tragedies and exposing a critical flaw in how resources are allocated.
In their quest to eliminate racism from every corner of society, DEI advocates have unwittingly pushed discourse into a realm that stifles genuine conversation. The relentless hunt for “microaggressions” has transformed workplaces into realms of paranoia, where employees hesitate to voice honest opinions for fear of being labeled as insensitive. These programs have birthed rigid speech codes and a culture of cancelation that impedes both free speech and productivity. Many companies have begun to covertly dismantle their DEI initiatives, perhaps realizing that the bottom line is more important than hollow virtue signaling.
As time progresses, there may yet be increased resistance to Trump’s anti-DEI efforts, largely fueled by those profiting from the burgeoning industry of equity and inclusion. However, it is unlikely that Democrats will give DEI a place of honor on their agenda anytime soon. The clashing values of meritocracy and opportunity for all run counter to the DEI narrative, and the lack of a widespread backlash seems to suggest the era of political correctness is finally starting to wane. A shift toward accountability and common sense might just be the trend conservatives have been waiting for. The landscape of political priorities may have changed forever; the desire for equity without sacrificing merit is the new common sense, and for liberals who cling to outdated ideologies, it looks like the game is up.
