The issuance of Executive Order 14173 marks, in my opinion, a serious step backward for diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at high schools and colleges throughout the United States. While proponents of the order claim that reversing DEI mandates reinstates emphasis on merit and thwarts politicization of education, the situation is more complex — and, in my opinion, more disturbing.
Learning environments — particularly at the K-12 and university levels — are in large part responsible for preparing the future workforce and civic leaders. DEI efforts within schools and universities are not about reducing standards; they are about ensuring that high-potential students of all backgrounds have equal access to opportunities. By eliminating federal support for DEI, the government runs the risk of exacerbating current achievement gaps and rendering campuses less inclusive to students from underrepresented communities.
At secondary schools, where students are shaping their identities and constructing their conception of society, DEI initiatives help create welcoming school climates reflecting the diversity of the country as a whole. Phasing out these programs could lead to school climates in which marginalized students become alienated or unsupported, ultimately damaging student performance and social solidarity.
At the college level, DEI initiatives have been central to increasing access for students of color, LGBTQ+ students, first-generation students, and other historically excluded or underserved populations. Without federal support, institutions will find it difficult to defend programs that strive to level the playing field — and some will eliminate them entirely under political or budgetary pressure. This could make higher education more expensive and less accessible at a time when it is more crucial than ever.
Though I share the understanding that DEI initiatives must be well thought out and implemented so as not to become tokens or exercises in excess ideology, abandoning them is not going to address those problems — it will exacerbate them. Schools and universities need structures that encourage diversity of experience and mind without sacrificing intellectual rigor. Executive Order 14173, in my opinion, moves education policy in the wrong direction by prioritizing political messaging over the real needs of students.
In short, rather than stepping away from DEI in schools, we should be working to cultivate and strengthen it — giving all students, regardless of background, the chance to succeed
