New guidelines from the Trump administration means the State Department will likely be prohibited from observing Black History Month in February, The Wall Street Journal reported.
The Trump administration announced the closure of diversity, equity and inclusion offices throughout the government, prompting State Department officials to ask if they could release public statements about Black History Month and other “heritage months and commemorative events,” the Journal reported Monday.
Officials were told staff should highlight the “valuable contribution of individual Americans throughout U.S. history, while ensuring our public communications maintain the spirit of the directive eliminating DEAI programs,” referring to diversity, equity, accessibility and inclusion, according to the Journal.
An official told the Journal they couldn’t remember the State Department ever failing to commemorate Black History Month.
Through an executive order, President Donld Trump said his administration would focus on promoting merit-based hiring and promotions, rather than the discrimination of diversity initiatives.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said “upholding strict meritocracy is essential to securing our nation’s future" and encouraged aides to report programs promoting DEI to DEIAtruth@opm.gov, the Journal reported.
The State Department maintains a website dedicated to Heritage and History Months, including Black History Month.
“Black culture is American culture, and Black stories are essential to the ongoing story of America — our faults, our struggles, our progress, and our aspirations,” the page reads. “Shining a light on Black history today is as important to understanding ourselves and growing stronger as a Nation as it has ever been.”
Sam Barron ✉
Sam Barron has almost two decades of experience covering a wide range of topics including politics, crime and business.
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