In a January 24 blog post responding to the Trump administration's disruptive Executive Orders killing any federal involvement in diversity, equity, and inclusion activities and oversight, NASW predicts the outcomes will “worsen America’s racial disparities related to access to higher paying employment opportunities that have growth potential while increasing the nation’s economic divide.”

The organization also laments that “ending  successful DE&I programs greatly slows down the advancement to a ‘level playing field’ for people of color and women as envisioned by  Civil Rights leaders of the 1960s.” It notes that in a country “rapidly being transformed into a nation where ‘minorities’ are becoming the majority, the notion of workplace equity and inclusion should be seen as ideal rather than something to be despised.”

NASW has developed a crisis communication and advocacy strategy to educate and engage policy makers and the public about the injustice and harm these executive orders will inflict not only on people of color and diverse cultures, but also of all citizens who believe in the human right to respect, dignity, and equality.

Social workers are encouraged to read the full blog post.