The Pentagon's intelligence arm has banned celebrations for MLK Jr. Day, Women's History Month, and other observances, aligning with Trump's executive orders. This move follows similar directives from the Justice Department and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, sparking criticism from activists who view these events as vital for recognizing and addressing historical inequalities.
The Pentagon 's intelligence arm has banned celebrations related to MLK Jr. Day, Women's History Month, and other observances, citing compliance with Trump 's executive orders. The Defense Intelligence Agency issued a directive pausing all activities and events commemorating these occasions. The memo specifically listed 11 observances now prohibited and stated that all affinity groups and employee networking groups are immediately on hold.
This directive comes amidst the Trump administration's focus on dismantling programs perceived as promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within the federal government. Last week, the Justice Department sent a memo to staff announcing the closure of all its DEI programs, claiming they 'divided Americans by race, wasted taxpayer dollars, and resulted in shameful discrimination.' A similar memo from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services last week informed employees that all affinity groups, also known as employee resource groups, are being disbanded, and special observances are being canceled. Employee resource groups, prevalent in both public and private sectors, are voluntary, employee-led groups for individuals sharing similar backgrounds or life experiences. Common examples include groups for Native Americans, LGBTQ people, Black employees, women, and veterans, among others.Activists are condemning these actions, arguing that such observances are crucial for acknowledging the full spectrum of American history and raising awareness about the experiences of diverse communities. Andrea M. O’Neal, a former White House official who played a key role in shaping federal policies and observances for Black History Month under President Joe Biden, emphasized that these events allow for the recognition of contributions from historically marginalized groups. She expressed concern that this rollback will demoralize these communities and have unforeseen negative consequences. Troy Blackwell, who worked for the Department of Commerce during the Biden administration, highlighted the importance of DEI in ensuring policies and resources are accessible to underserved communities. He cited his team's initiative to establish patent and trademark resource libraries at Hispanic-serving institutions and historically Black colleges and universities. Blackwell expressed deep disappointment over the current developments, characterizing them as government overreach and a betrayal of progress made towards inclusivity
TRUMP EXECUTIVE ORDERS PENTAGON DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE AGENCY DEI DIVERSITY EQUITY INCLUSION AFFINITY GROUPS MLK JR. DAY WOMEN's HISTORY MONTH CIVIL RIGHTS
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