Time - Media coverage about the roll back of DEI activities has largely been focused on which programs and policies are being phased out, why such regression is occurring at this time, and what conservatives are misunderstanding and misrepresenting. In the context of education, attention also has been placed on the anticipated effects on diverse students. But not enough emphasis is being devoted to the actual people who do high quality DEI work—professionals who are losing jobs, salaries, and stability. Plus, these workers have then had to endure President Donald Trump and other powerful lawmakers baselessly misrepresent their work as “illegal and immoral” and accuse them of being unqualified so-called “DEI hires.”
Immediately after the White House announced that federal DEI workers were being placed on administrative leave, hosts and guests on conservative cable news networks celebrated. “Bye, Bye DEI,” posted Fox News on Instagram. Perhaps they didn’t realize that they were rejoicing the undeserved loss of American jobs. Maybe they didn’t understand that those people who spent years (in some instances decades) attempting to make America truly great for all citizens suddenly may not be able to afford to pay rent or their mortgages.
Some of these workers now won’t be able to afford daycare for their kids or elder care for their aging parents. Others have children in college whose tuition payments are suddenly in limbo because of politics. Some will lose their healthcare benefits. Too many of these workers will struggle to find other jobs because of the false narratives that are being told about DEI. Now is a terrible time for a DEI professional to find a job.
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