OLYMPIA — Washington Attorney General Nick Brown, along with attorneys general from California, Illinois, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, and Vermont, issued a joint statement today addressing President Trump’s recent executive orders targeting diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) policies and programs.
“President Trump’s executive orders are unnecessary and disingenuous. These orders have nothing to do with combatting discrimination,” the attorneys general stated. “The Trump administration has longstanding civil rights laws at its disposal to combat real discrimination, and we would be willing partners if it chose to pursue this path. Instead, the administration is targeting lawful policies and programs that are beneficial to all Americans. These policies and programs are not only consistent with state and federal anti-discrimination laws, they foster environments where everyone has an opportunity to succeed. That is the opposite of discrimination.”
The attorneys general emphasized that President Trump’s actions undermine efforts to create fair workplaces and opportunities for all individuals. They also condemned his recent statements linking DEIA initiatives to a tragic plane crash, calling such remarks “baseless and offensive.”
“President Trump’s attack on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility initiatives undermines a simple and unassailable goal: to create fairer workplaces and opportunities for all to succeed. His baseless and offensive claims that these initiatives somehow contributed to the tragic plane crash this week are an insult to those who are grieving, and the individuals serving in the military and air traffic control.”
The group of attorneys general, representing states with tens of millions of workers, strongly opposed what they described as an effort to “weaponize decades-old policies” that have historically been supported by both Democratic and Republican administrations to address systemic inequities.
“DEIA initiatives do more than prevent discrimination—they promote respect, understanding, and the celebration of diverse perspectives. This means ensuring that people of diverse races, backgrounds, and beliefs are present and valued in workplace and educational settings, that everyone receives fair treatment and equal access to opportunities, and that individuals or groups feel welcomed and supported in those settings,” they continued. “Inclusive employment practices such as expanded parental leave and flexible work arrangements acknowledge employees’ diverse needs, family constructs, and abilities.”
They also refuted claims that these initiatives diminish merit-based hiring or lower workplace standards.
“Contrary to President Trump’s assertions, the policies he seeks to end do not diminish the importance of individual merit, nor do they mean that employers are lowering their standards, hiring unqualified candidates, or engaging in race-and-sex-based preferences. DEIA initiatives simply ensure that there are fair opportunities for everyone, helping to maximize contributions from all employees and enabling businesses and organizations to succeed in their missions.”
As the top law enforcement officials in their states, the attorneys general reaffirmed their commitment to enforcing civil rights laws and protecting individuals from discriminatory practices.
“As the chief law enforcement officers for our respective states, we are committed to enforcing federal and state civil rights laws to protect the rights of all our people against discriminatory practices. We condemn discrimination in any form, and we stand in strong opposition to the President’s recent orders and the misleading narrative he has pushed to justify them.”
Source: Seattle Medium
