The Undoing of Progress: A Reflection on Repealing DEI and EEOC Policies

With Executive Order 2025-14, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) have been repealed. These weren’t just policies—they were protections, ensuring that no one could be denied opportunities because of their race, gender, or identity. Without them, the door is wide open for exclusion and discrimination to return under the guise of “meritocracy.”

This isn’t just about jobs. It’s about the right to exist and succeed in spaces that have long excluded people like me. Institutions can now legally deny opportunities to those who don’t fit their narrow idea of “acceptable.” History is repeating itself—this is how Jim Crow laws operated, using legal systems to hold power in the hands of a privileged few while shutting out everyone else.

And let’s not ignore the bigger picture: Project 2025. Whatever it fully entails, it’s clear that repealing DEI and EEOC is a step toward concentrating power while leaving the rest of us to fight for scraps.

This affects all of us. If you don’t fit their mold, no amount of education or qualifications will matter—they’ll shut the door just because they can.

We can’t afford to stay silent. Silence is consent. If we don’t resist, we’re agreeing to a future where exclusion isn’t just tolerated—it’s the law. It’s time to fight back, not just for today but for the generations that come after us.