How Trump’s anti-DEI policies are hurting Black workers

Key Takeaways:

• U.S. unemployment has reached 4.6%, while Black workers face a much higher 8.3%.
• Federal layoffs projected to hit 300,000 by year’s end disproportionately affect Black employees.
• Trump’s raft of anti-DEI executive orders has spurred private companies to pull back on diversity programs.
• Experts caution that Black women are particularly vulnerable amid these layoffs and DEI cuts.
• Long-term career development for Black employees is threatened by diminished DEI programs.

Rising Rates of Unemployment

New unemployment figures showing a jump to 4.6% in November reflect the highest national rate in four years. But the surge in joblessness has been especially acute for Black workers, whose unemployment rate rose from 6% to 8.3% over the past six months—nearly triple the average among white workers, who continue to see rates that hover just above 3%.

Scaling Back DEI Programs

Economic pressures, alongside a sudden national policy shift, have compounded the struggle for stable employment among Black Americans. In January, the Trump administration moved to shut down federal offices dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), reversing a key executive action that had aimed to curb discriminatory hiring practices among government contractors. These reversals also sparked heightened scrutiny of corporate DEI efforts nationwide, prompting some employers to reconsider or eliminate their own diversity programs.

Federal Layoffs and Their Fallout

Adding another layer to the crisis is the mass reduction in the federal workforce. Layoffs set to reach 300,000 by the end of the year particularly endanger Black workers, who hold a significant portion of federal jobs. According to analysis, nearly half the federal workforce consists of women—and about 41% of employees are people of color. Many are also in probationary periods, making them more vulnerable to termination.

Quelling Corporate Diversity Efforts

A flurry of investigations into private corporations’ hiring models has led major companies to quietly scale back or redefine their DEI initiatives. Several tech giants, such as Meta and Google, have scrapped internal diversity goals, while major retailers like Walmart have withdrawn from high-profile equality indexes that once provided benchmarks for inclusive workplaces.

Expert Perspectives

Valerie Wilson, director of the Program on Race, Ethnicity, and the Economy at the Economic Policy Institute, describes the cuts as a “perfect storm” for Black workers—particularly Black women, who often occupy DEI roles at higher rates. Lauren Khouri, senior director of workplace equality at the National Women’s Law Center, points to hard-hit grant programs that once funded training and equity initiatives in industries ranging from domestic violence support to skilled trades. Without these resources, organizations devoted to uplifting marginalized communities have struggled to keep their doors open.

Looking Ahead

With Black unemployment faring worse than the national average, experts warn that any oncoming economic downturn could be especially severe for this demographic. The loss of DEI offices has ripple effects not only on immediate job prospects for Black workers, but also on the career advancement pathways these programs provided. For decades, federal jobs represented a stable route to the middle class for many Black Americans, in part due to equitable hiring practices that had once made the government a role model for diversity. Now, amid shrinking public-sector workforces and subdued private-sector inclusion efforts, the question remains whether Black employees will be left with fewer opportunities to advance—or even keep pace—within a shifting and uncertain labor market.