The Trump administration struck at the foundation of diversity-focused federal hiring Thursday, removing decades-old guidelines that critics say prioritized racial outcomes over job qualifications across the 2.2 million-strong federal workforce.

Historic Rule Change Takes Effect

The Office of Personnel Management issued a final interim rule eliminating references to the 1978 Uniform Guidelines on Employee Selection Procedures. The move follows a Justice Department legal opinion declaring these guidelines unconstitutional for encouraging race-conscious hiring decisions. The rule took effect immediately upon Federal Register publication Thursday, though it remains open for 60-day public comment before becoming permanent.

OPM Director Scott Kupor defended the change as a return to merit-based hiring. Federal hiring should focus on qualifications and job performance ability, he stated, ensuring regulations reflect current legal guidance while maintaining rigorous, job-related standards. The agency serves as the human resources authority for roughly 2 million civilian federal employees across executive branch agencies, overseeing recruitment, promotion, and workforce management policies.

Targeting the Legal Framework

The rule specifically removes guidance centered on disparate impact theory—the concept that hiring practices producing unequal racial outcomes could be legally problematic even without intentional discrimination. Administration officials argue these guidelines pressured employers to focus on demographic results rather than candidate qualifications. Supporters of the original guidelines contend they protect against subtle discrimination forms that traditional enforcement might miss.

This action represents the administration’s most significant move beyond simply closing DEI offices or ending diversity training programs. Officials now target the regulatory framework that enabled such policies across the federal government. The change affects how all federal agencies approach hiring, promotion, and employee selection decisions moving forward.

Broader Campaign Against DEI

Since President Donald Trump’s second term began, the administration has documented hundreds of colleges rolling back DEI initiatives. Policy changes have addressed transgender athletic participation, parental rights, race-conscious programs, and merit-based admissions requirements. The administration dismantled federal DEI programs, terminated related grants and contracts, severed ties with companies embracing DEI policies, and required federal contractors to comply with new standards. Schools face potential federal funding loss over certain DEI practices under administration warnings issued earlier this year.