Trump escalates campaign against diversity progammes – SABC News [Video]

United States (US) President Donald Trump escalated his campaign against diversity programmes yesterday by pressuring the private sector to join the initiative, ordering aviation officials to review diversity hires and telling government DEI employees they would be placed on paid leave.

The measures come one day after Trump on his first day in office issued a series of executive orders to end diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programmes, which attempt to promote opportunities for women, ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ people and other traditionally underrepresented groups.

Civil rights advocates have argued such programmes are necessary to address longstanding inequities and structural racism.

In a new executive order issued yesterday, Trump revoked executive orders dating as far back as 1965 on environmental actions, equal employment opportunities and encouragement to federal contractors to achieve workforce balancing on race, gender and religion.

The 1965 order that was revoked was signed by President Lyndon Johnson to protect the rights of workers employed …