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Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Texans Gain the Right To Try Individualized Medical Treatments
If you're so sick that you have nothing to lose and you're looking the Grim Reaper in the face, why shouldn't you be able to try experimental and officially unapproved treatments? While libertarians recognize individuals' right to take their own risks, even those of a more nanny-ish disposition have a hard time coming up with answers to that question. That's why the Right to Try movement has taken off across the country, marking its latest victory in Texas. "In a major win for rare disease patients, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed Goldwater's Right to Try for Individualized Treatments Act," Brian Norman of the Goldwater Institute, which champions right-to-try legislation, wrote last week. "Championed by Senator Paul Bettencourt and Representative Ken King, SB 984 expands Goldwater's original Right to Try law to potentially lifesaving treatments that are designed specifically for individual patients." Right-to-try laws have been passed in at least 41 states, largely based on model legislation crafted by the Goldwater Institute that allows those with terminal illnesses access to experimental treatments. Colorado was the first to adopt right-to-try, though Texas wasn't far behind, passing such a law in 2015. Counterpart federal legislation passed in 2018. At the time, President Donald Trump, then in his first term, commented, "With the Right to Try law I'm signing today, patients with life-threatening illnesses will finally have access to experimental treatments that could improve or even cure their conditions." In 2023, the Lone Star State expanded right-to-try to patients with chronic ailments. That law specified that "it is the intent of the legislature to allow patients with a severe chronic disease to use potentially life-altering investigational drugs, biological products, and devices." By that time, some states, including Arizona, had already passed laws expanding right-to-try to include individualized treatments that hadn't been contemplated in the original legislation—or even by most physicians, not long in the past. "Rapid medical innovations have made it possible to take an individual's genetic information and create a treatment for that individual person," notes the Goldwater-sponsored Right to Try website. "More patients, especially those with rare and ultra-rare illnesses, will pursue these treatments when they have exhausted other options. Unfortunately, the [U.S. Food and Drug Administration]'s current regulatory scheme is not designed to handle these kinds of individual treatments, and that will keep life-saving medication out of the hands of patients unless reforms are adopted." Just days ago, Cincinnati's WKRC marked National Cancer Survivor's Month by highlighting patients who benefited from radiation and chemotherapy treatments that were tailored to their bodies. "Precision medicine is finding mutations or proteins in an individual's body that suggests that certain drugs can be used to treat that patient not only most effectively but with the least side effects," Michael Gieske, director of the Lung Cancer Screening Program at St. Elizabeth Healthcare, told WKRC. In Texas, legislation to clear the way for patients to try such treatments before they've been formally approved came in the form of SB 984, which "establishes a pathway by which patients with rare or ultra-rare diseases may seek, under their doctor's care, personalized treatments developed in federally approved facilities." The bill's sponsor in the Texas Senate, Sen. Paul Bettencourt (R–Houston), boasted, "Texas is again leading the nation in fighting for the most vulnerable patients, whose only hope lies in cutting-edge, individualized treatments not traditional clinical trials, and for me, the coolest thing you can do as a legislator is pass a bill that saves lives." None of these laws can guarantee that an experimental treatment will actually improve a terminal or chronic patient's condition, of course. But there's no good reason for blocking access to promising or even long-shot treatments when patients have run out of other options. Through the various incarnations of proposed legislation, the Right to Try movement has sought to expand patients' choices and reduce bureaucratic barriers to treatment. But it's not perfect. Right-to-try laws create exceptions to red tape that stands between patients and potentially life-saving treatments, but they don't fully empower people to make their own decisions, nor do they eliminate the bureaucratic hurdles that slow the approval of medicines and medical devices. "Drug lag costs lives because people suffer and die from disease that might be treatable, if only there were more investment in finding a cure," argued Jessica Flanigan, an associate professor at the University of Richmond, in her 2017 book, Pharmaceutical Freedom: Why Patients Have a Right to Self-Medicate. "Requirements that raise the cost of development make it less likely that they will succeed. Premarket testing conditions also cost lives because patients with conditions that could be treated or cured by unapproved drugs suffer and die while they are waiting for approval." Flanigan recommends a fully libertarian approach that would remove the restraints from people's freedom to try medications and medical treatments based on their own judgment and the advice of whatever sources and experts they choose to consult. It's a morally good and consistent take that would eliminate the barriers to medicines and medical devices while also lowering the costs of developing new ones. People would be expected to shoulder the burdens of any risks they take. But liberating though Flanigan's approach would be, it's far more difficult to get through legislatures than are a series of incremental right-to-try laws that erode bureaucratic hurdles a little at a time. Montana took the next step last month when Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte signed a bill allowing for centers where patients can receive experimental treatments that have completed phase 1 clinical trials but not yet been approved. Everybody is eligible, subject to recommendations from physicians and the requirements of informed consent. To escape federal regulation, experimental meds administered in the centers will have to be produced in Montana—but the state has an active pharmaceutical sector. Texas took an important step last week toward expanding the right to try experimental medical treatments to a broader sector of the population. But the Right to Try movement isn't nearly done. The post Texans Gain the Right To Try Individualized Medical Treatments appeared first on
Chicago Tribune
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
As President Donald Trump targets DEI, Republican-led states intensify efforts to stamp it out
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Republican-led states are accelerating efforts to stamp out diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, expanding from higher education to other government functions since President Donald Trump fully embraced the movement. Governors and lawmakers this year have about doubled last year's actions targeting DEI initiatives, which had roughly doubled those of 2023, according to an Associated Press analysis aided by the bill-tracking software Plural. The surge comes as Trump's executive orders seeking to halt DEI initiatives ripple through the federal government, universities and schools, despite legal challenges. 'The federal attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion from the Trump administration have further cleared the path for conservative state legislators,' said Shaun Harper, a professor of education, business and public policy at the University of Southern California who founded the National DEI Defense Coalition. 'We are seeing the multiplication of the anti-DEI effort literally everywhere,' Harper added. Details vary by state, but many efforts contain at least some aspects of a four-pronged plan outlined two years ago by a pair of conservative think tanks. The legislative model promoted by the Manhattan Institute and the Goldwater Institute focused on higher education, seeking to abolish DEI offices and staff, end mandatory diversity training, ban compulsory diversity statements and outlaw racial or sexual preferences in hiring and admissions. Now Republican-led states are using the same model to prohibit DEI initiatives in state and local governments. 'Despite the Trump administration taking action, the states cannot rely on the federal government to root out DEI for them,' said Timothy Minella, senior fellow at the Goldwater Institute. Efforts to promote diversity, equity and inclusion have existed for years in higher education institutions, businesses and government bureaucracies. Supporters say such initiatives benefit everyone by helping people navigate diverse societies and understand people's differing viewpoints and experiences. Their goal is to promote student bodies and workplaces where everyone feels valued. That is why some DEI offices have tailored services to people of particular races, genders, sexual orientations and cultures and disabilities. Some institutions also have factored in equity goals when admitting students, providing scholarships or making employment decisions, to try to reflect society at large. Findings in a poll conducted earlier this month by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research show that while 'DEI' has become a politically toxic term for many Americans, some components of DEI programs have much less opposition. The poll found about 4 in 10 Americans 'strongly' or 'somewhat' favor DEI programs in colleges and universities, while about 3 in 10 oppose those initiatives and about 3 in 10 are neutral. Support is higher for courses on racism and scholarships for students of color, among other services designed to help students from underrepresented groups. President Joe Biden's administration required diversity and equity goals in various government programs. Trump has reversed those efforts, denouncing DEI policies as a form of discrimination that threatens merit-based decision-making. The Republican roll-back gained momentum after the Supreme Court in 2023 struck down racial affirmative action in college admissions. With Trump's return to the presidency, a growing number of businesses have voluntarily withdrawn their DEI programs. There is no universal definition about what's covered by those initiatives. But most state laws and gubernatorial orders focus on initiatives related to race, ethnicity, gender or sex. Some measures, such bills passed in Oklahoma and Wyoming, further narrow their definition of DEI activities to those that grant preferential or differential treatment of individuals based on such factors. The state measures don't typically mention people with disabilities, military veterans or those from lower-income households, even though they might also be included in an institution's equity efforts, said Paulette Granberry Russell, president of the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education. 'Diversity, equity and inclusion efforts extends well beyond race, gender and sexuality, but it has been framed in ways that targets those populations and demonize those populations,' she said. Some workers targeted by Trump's anti-DEI measures claim they are being used to justify firing people who happen to be minorities and women. One class-action complaint by federal workers alleges that Trump's anti-DEI executive orders discriminate against employees who aren't white men. Limits on DEI initiatives in higher education recently approved by legislatures in Missouri and Oklahoma raise the total number of similar state laws and gubernatorial orders to two dozen since 2023. That includes bills passed earlier this year in Arkansas, Idaho, Kentucky, Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee, West Virginia and Wyoming. More are under consideration in additional states. The Missouri measures show the growth of the movement. A provision limiting DEI in higher education got left out of the state budget last year. But it got included this year after new Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe issued an order barring executive agencies from using state funds on DEI positions and activities. New laws in Tennessee, West Virginia and Wyoming target DEI initiatives in state and local governments as well as higher education. More governors are issuing directives now. On his first day in office in West Virginia in January, Republican Gov. Patrick Morrisey ordered an end to DEI staff positions and activities that grant preferential treatment based on race, ethnicity or sex in executive departments and state-funded institutions. On his second day, Republican Indiana Gov. Mike Braun issued a similar order. Kehoe's anti-DEI order came in his second month as Missouri governor. Texas was among the first states in 2023 to legislate against spending on DEI programs in higher education. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott expanded upon that this year, ordering all state agencies to 'comply with the color-blind guarantee' of the U.S. and state constitutions. His executive order described DEI concepts as 'blatant efforts to divide people' with 'new forms of racism.' A new Idaho law signed by Republican Gov. Brad Little not only bans DEI offices and programs in higher education but also addresses what's taught in the classroom. It prohibits colleges and universities from requiring students to take DEI-related courses to meet graduation requirements, unless they're pursuing degrees in race or gender studies. It's the first such law nationally, according to the Goldwater Institute, which teamed up with Speech First to develop a model they describe as the 'Freedom from Indoctrination Act.' DEI opponents are hoping more states will soon follow. 'Our goal is to get rid of the DEI mandates for general education and programs in order to get a degree,' Minella said.
Time of India
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Red states escalate DEI crackdown as Trump-led ideological shift gains ground
FILE - President Donald Trump holds a signed an executive order relating to school discipline policies as Education Secretary Linda McMahon listens in the Oval Office of the White House, April 23, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, file) Republican-led states are intensifying a sweeping campaign to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, expanding far beyond college campuses and into state and local government agencies. What began as a focused effort against DEI offices in higher education is now morphing into a full-scale ideological reversal, driven in part by President Donald Trump's deepening antagonism toward the movement. According to an analysis by The Associated Press using Plural's bill-tracking software, Republican lawmakers have nearly doubled the number of anti-DEI measures passed this year compared to 2023—a year that had already seen a doubling from the previous one. The momentum shows no signs of slowing, particularly as Trump's executive orders ripple across universities, federal agencies, and schools, regardless of mounting legal challenges. 'The federal attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion from the Trump administration have further cleared the path for conservative state legislators,' said Shaun Harper, a professor at the University of Southern California and founder of the National DEI Defense Coalition. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Tu Nissan al mejor precio y con hasta 10 años de garantía 10 días Nissan Ver oferta Undo 'We are seeing the multiplication of the anti-DEI effort literally everywhere,' Harper added. A blueprint for reversal The core strategy behind this legislative tidal wave draws heavily from a conservative playbook devised by the Manhattan Institute and the Goldwater Institute. Initially focused on higher education, the four-pronged model advocated eliminating DEI staff, ending mandatory diversity training, banning diversity statements, and prohibiting racial or sexual preferences in admissions and hiring. That blueprint is now being adapted to apply across broader layers of government. 'Despite the Trump administration taking action, the states cannot rely on the federal government to root out DEI for them,' said Timothy Minella, senior fellow at the Goldwater Institute. What DEI set out to do DEI initiatives have long been established in educational institutions, businesses, and public agencies to create inclusive environments where individuals of varying backgrounds feel seen and supported. These programs often include services tailored to underrepresented groups and may guide admissions or hiring practices to ensure representation. Though the term 'DEI' has become politically contentious, a recent AP-NORC poll suggests the public's opinions are more nuanced. While roughly 4 in 10 Americans support DEI in colleges and universities, only 3 in 10 strongly oppose it. The same poll shows even stronger support for specific components—such as courses on racism and scholarships for students of colour. Redefining DEI , narrowing the scope There is no universally accepted definition of DEI, but recent state laws typically focus on identity-based initiatives—particularly those connected to race, ethnicity, and gender. In some states like Oklahoma and Wyoming, legislation narrows DEI to policies that provide differential treatment based on such characteristics. 'Diversity, equity and inclusion efforts extend well beyond race, gender, and sexuality, but it has been framed in ways that target those populations and demonize those populations,' said Paulette Granberry Russell, president of the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education. Critics argue that the anti-DEI push is not only limiting institutional missions but also being weaponized to marginalize minority employees. A class-action complaint filed by federal workers alleges that Trump's executive orders effectively enable the firing of nonwhite and female employees under the guise of eliminating DEI. State capitols lead the charge Since 2023, nearly two dozen states have enacted laws or issued executive orders to curtail DEI programming. Newer additions to the list—such as Arkansas, Mississippi, and West Virginia—reflect the geographical spread of the movement. In Missouri, for instance, a provision banning DEI in higher education failed last year but succeeded this time after Republican Governor Mike Kehoe issued an executive order blocking state funding for DEI positions and activities. Tennessee, Wyoming, and West Virginia have gone even further, targeting DEI across both educational institutions and government offices. Governors double down The wave of executive actions underscores the political urgency Republican governors are placing on this issue. On his first day in office, West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey banned DEI roles and any preferential treatment based on identity categories. Within 24 hours, Indiana's Governor Mike Braun followed suit. Kehoe's Missouri order came shortly thereafter. In Texas, Governor Greg Abbott built on the state's 2023 legislation by declaring that DEI violates the "colour-blind guarantee" of the Constitution. His executive order described DEI as promoting 'new forms of racism' and creating division. From campus policy to curriculum control Perhaps the most striking legislative development comes from Idaho. A newly signed law bans DEI programs in higher education and prohibits colleges from requiring DEI-related coursework as a graduation requirement—unless a student is majoring in race or gender studies. The Goldwater Institute hails the legislation as the nation's first of its kind, calling it the 'Freedom from Indoctrination Act,' created in partnership with the conservative legal group Speech First. 'Our goal is to get rid of the DEI mandates for general education and programs in order to get a degree,' Minella said. The road ahead: A political and cultural battleground With Trump's political resurgence and conservative states emboldened, the fight over DEI is fast becoming one of the most defining cultural and legislative battlegrounds in American governance. As more states introduce bills modeled on these anti-DEI frameworks, the once-widespread push for institutional equity is being reshaped by an equally organized—and increasingly aggressive—opposition. The question that remains is not just what DEI will look like in the future, but whether its foundational values can withstand the rising tide of political retrenchment. Invest in Their Tomorrow, Today: Equip your child with the essential AI skills for a future brimming with possibilities | Join Now
Hindustan Times
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Republican US states intensify efforts to erase diversity from education, govt functions
Republican-led states are accelerating efforts to stamp out diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, expanding from higher education to other government functions since President Donald Trump fully embraced the movement. Governors and lawmakers this year have about doubled last year's actions targeting DEI initiatives, which had roughly doubled those of 2023, according to an Associated Press analysis aided by the bill-tracking software Plural. The surge comes as Trump's executive orders seeking to halt DEI initiatives ripple through the federal government, universities and schools, despite legal challenges. "The federal attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion from the Trump administration have further cleared the path for conservative state legislators,' said Shaun Harper, a professor of education, business and public policy at the University of Southern California who founded the National DEI Defense Coalition. Also read | Trump sanctions 120,000 H-1B visas amid tech crunch. What does it mean for Indian professionals? 'We are seeing the multiplication of the anti-DEI effort literally everywhere,' Harper added. Details vary by state, but many efforts contain at least some aspects of a four-pronged plan outlined two years ago by a pair of conservative think tanks. The legislative model promoted by the Manhattan Institute and the Goldwater Institute focused on higher education, seeking to abolish DEI offices and staff, end mandatory diversity training, ban compulsory diversity statements and outlaw racial or sexual preferences in hiring and admissions. Now Republican-led states are using the same model to prohibit DEI initiatives in state and local governments. 'Despite the Trump administration taking action, the states cannot rely on the federal government to root out DEI for them,' said Timothy Minella, senior fellow at the Goldwater Institute. Efforts to promote diversity, equity and inclusion have existed for years in higher education institutions, businesses and government bureaucracies. Supporters say such initiatives benefit everyone by helping people navigate diverse societies and understand people's differing viewpoints and experiences. Their goal is to promote student bodies and workplaces where everyone feels valued. That is why some DEI offices have tailored services to people of particular races, genders, sexual orientations and cultures and disabilities. Some institutions also have factored in equity goals when admitting students, providing scholarships or making employment decisions, to try to reflect society at large. Also read | Ex-Pentagon official blasts Trump govt over IMF bailout to Pakistan: 'Terror-addled…' Findings in a poll conducted earlier this month by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research show that while 'DEI' has become a politically toxic term for many Americans, some components of DEI programs have much less opposition. The poll found about 4 in 10 Americans 'strongly' or 'somewhat' favor DEI programs in colleges and universities, while about 3 in 10 oppose those initiatives and about 3 in 10 are neutral. Support is higher for courses on racism and scholarships for students of color, among other services designed to help students from underrepresented groups. President Joe Biden's administration required diversity and equity goals in various government programs. Trump has reversed those efforts, denouncing DEI policies as a form of discrimination that threatens merit-based decision-making. The Republican roll-back gained momentum after the Supreme Court in 2023 struck down racial affirmative action in college admissions. With Trump's return to the presidency, a growing number of businesses have voluntarily withdrawn their DEI programs. There is no universal definition about what's covered by those initiatives. But most state laws and gubernatorial orders focus on initiatives related to race, ethnicity, gender or sex. Some measures, such bills passed in Oklahoma and Wyoming, further narrow their definition of DEI activities to those that grant preferential or differential treatment of individuals based on such factors. Also read | Who is Col. Nicole Malachowski? First female Thunderbird pilot and the Air Force DEI content removal controversy The state measures don't typically mention people with disabilities, military veterans or those from lower-income households, even though they might also be included in an institution's equity efforts, said Paulette Granberry Russell, president of the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education. 'Diversity, equity and inclusion efforts extends well beyond race, gender and sexuality, but it has been framed in ways that targets those populations and demonize those populations,' she said. Some workers targeted by Trump's anti-DEI measures claim they are being used to justify firing people who happen to be minorities and women. One class-action complaint by federal workers alleges that Trump's anti-DEI executive orders discriminate against employees who aren't white men. Limits on DEI initiatives in higher education recently approved by legislatures in Missouri and Oklahoma raise the total number of similar state laws and gubernatorial orders to two dozen since 2023. That includes bills passed earlier this year in Arkansas, Idaho, Kentucky, Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee, West Virginia and Wyoming. More are under consideration in additional states. The Missouri measures show the growth of the movement. A provision limiting DEI in higher education got left out of the state budget last year. But it got included this year after new Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe issued an order barring executive agencies from using state funds on DEI positions and activities. New laws in Tennessee, West Virginia and Wyoming target DEI initiatives in state and local governments as well as higher education. More governors are issuing directives now. On his first day in office in West Virginia in January, Republican Gov. Patrick Morrisey ordered an end to DEI staff positions and activities that grant preferential treatment based on race, ethnicity or sex in executive departments and state-funded institutions. On his second day, Republican Indiana Gov. Mike Braun issued a similar order. Kehoe's anti-DEI order came in his second month as Missouri governor. Texas was among the first states in 2023 to legislate against spending on DEI programs in higher education. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott expanded upon that this year, ordering all state agencies to 'comply with the color-blind guarantee' of the U.S. and state constitutions. His executive order described DEI concepts as 'blatant efforts to divide people' with 'new forms of racism.' A new Idaho law signed by Republican Gov. Brad Little not only bans DEI offices and programs in higher education but also addresses what's taught in the classroom. It prohibits colleges and universities from requiring students to take DEI-related courses to meet graduation requirements, unless they're pursuing degrees in race or gender studies. It's the first such law nationally, according to the Goldwater Institute, which teamed up with Speech First to develop a model they describe as the 'Freedom from Indoctrination Act.' DEI opponents are hoping more states will soon follow. 'Our goal is to get rid of the DEI mandates for general education and programs in order to get a degree," Minella said.
Hamilton Spectator
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
As Trump targets DEI, Republican-led states intensify efforts to stamp it out
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Republican-led states are accelerating efforts to stamp out diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, expanding from higher education to other government functions since President Donald Trump fully embraced the movement. Governors and lawmakers this year have about doubled last year's actions targeting DEI initiatives , which had roughly doubled those of 2023, according to an Associated Press analysis aided by the bill-tracking software Plural . The surge comes as Trump's executive orders seeking to halt DEI initiatives ripple through the federal government, universities and schools, despite legal challenges . 'The federal attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion from the Trump administration have further cleared the path for conservative state legislators,' said Shaun Harper, a professor of education, business and public policy at the University of Southern California who founded the National DEI Defense Coalition. 'We are seeing the multiplication of the anti-DEI effort literally everywhere,' Harper added. Details vary by state, but many efforts contain at least some aspects of a four-pronged plan outlined two years ago by a pair of conservative think tanks. The legislative model promoted by the Manhattan Institute and the Goldwater Institute focused on higher education, seeking to abolish DEI offices and staff, end mandatory diversity training, ban compulsory diversity statements and outlaw racial or sexual preferences in hiring and admissions. Now Republican-led states are using the same model to prohibit DEI initiatives in state and local governments. 'Despite the Trump administration taking action, the states cannot rely on the federal government to root out DEI for them,' said Timothy Minella, senior fellow at the Goldwater Institute. What are DEI initiatives trying to address? Efforts to promote diversity, equity and inclusion have existed for years in higher education institutions, businesses and government bureaucracies. Supporters say such initiatives benefit everyone by helping people navigate diverse societies and understand people's differing viewpoints and experiences. Their goal is to promote student bodies and workplaces where everyone feels valued. That is why some DEI offices have tailored services to people of particular races, genders, sexual orientations and cultures and disabilities. Some institutions also have factored in equity goals when admitting students, providing scholarships or making employment decisions, to try to reflect society at large. Findings in a poll conducted earlier this month by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research show that while 'DEI' has become a politically toxic term for many Americans, some components of DEI programs have much less opposition. The poll found about 4 in 10 Americans 'strongly' or 'somewhat' favor DEI programs in colleges and universities, while about 3 in 10 oppose those initiatives and about 3 in 10 are neutral. Support is higher for courses on racism and scholarships for students of color, among other services designed to help students from underrepresented groups . President Joe Biden's administration required diversity and equity goals in various government programs. Trump has reversed those efforts, denouncing DEI policies as a form of discrimination that threatens merit-based decision-making. The Republican roll-back gained momentum after the Supreme Court in 2023 struck down racial affirmative action in college admissions. With Trump's return to the presidency, a growing number of businesses have voluntarily withdrawn their DEI programs . How are the new state laws defining DEI? There is no universal definition about what's covered by those initiatives. But most state laws and gubernatorial orders focus on initiatives related to race, ethnicity, gender or sex. Some measures, such bills passed in Oklahoma and Wyoming, further narrow their definition of DEI activities to those that grant preferential or differential treatment of individuals based on such factors. The state measures don't typically mention people with disabilities, military veterans or those from lower-income households, even though they might also be included in an institution's equity efforts, said Paulette Granberry Russell, president of the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education. 'Diversity, equity and inclusion efforts extends well beyond race, gender and sexuality, but it has been framed in ways that targets those populations and demonize those populations,' she said. Some workers targeted by Trump's anti-DEI measures claim they are being used to justify firing people who happen to be minorities and women. One class-action complaint by federal workers alleges that Trump's anti-DEI executive orders discriminate against employees who aren't white men. Where are DEI efforts being targeted? Limits on DEI initiatives in higher education recently approved by legislatures in Missouri and Oklahoma raise the total number of similar state laws and gubernatorial orders to two dozen since 2023. That includes bills passed earlier this year in Arkansas, Idaho, Kentucky, Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee, West Virginia and Wyoming. More are under consideration in additional states. The Missouri measures show the growth of the movement. A provision limiting DEI in higher education got left out of the state budget last year. But it got included this year after new Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe issued an order barring executive agencies from using state funds on DEI positions and activities. New laws in Tennessee , West Virginia and Wyoming target DEI initiatives in state and local governments as well as higher education. What have governors been doing? More governors are issuing directives now. On his first day in office in West Virginia in January, Republican Gov. Patrick Morrisey ordered an end to DEI staff positions and activities that grant preferential treatment based on race, ethnicity or sex in executive departments and state-funded institutions. On his second day, Republican Indiana Gov. Mike Braun issued a similar order. Kehoe's anti-DEI order came in his second month as Missouri governor. Texas was among the first states in 2023 to legislate against spending on DEI programs in higher education. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott expanded upon that this year, ordering all state agencies to 'comply with the color-blind guarantee' of the U.S. and state constitutions. His executive order described DEI concepts as 'blatant efforts to divide people' with 'new forms of racism.' What's next in the anti-DEI crosshairs? A new Idaho law signed by Republican Gov. Brad Little not only bans DEI offices and programs in higher education but also addresses what's taught in the classroom. It prohibits colleges and universities from requiring students to take DEI-related courses to meet graduation requirements, unless they're pursuing degrees in race or gender studies. It's the first such law nationally, according to the Goldwater Institute, which teamed up with Speech First to develop a model they describe as the 'Freedom from Indoctrination Act.' DEI opponents are hoping more states will soon follow. 'Our goal is to get rid of the DEI mandates for general education and programs in order to get a degree,' Minella said.
