The New Employment-Related Executive Orders and What They Mean for Private Employers and Federal Contractors

As one of his first acts in office, President Trump issued Executive Order (EO) 14173—Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity—which revoked EO 11246 (requiring affirmative action in employment for federal contractors) and EO 14151—Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing—directing the termination of all discriminatory programs, including DEI programs in the federal government. These initiatives mark a significant shift in the regulatory and investigative landscape for federal contractors and subcontractors, federal financial assistance and grant recipients, institutions of higher education, non-profits, and all private-sector employers with DEI programs and initiatives. Join us for a discussion of these and other recent policy changes covering a wide range of this administration’s priorities in addition to a forecast of what employers can expect in the weeks ahead, including potential litigation related to these executive orders and others.