In a decisive move signaling a major policy shift, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy has put an end to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) mandates and eco-focused policies set during the Biden administration. Duffy made the announcement clear to federal fund recipients, claiming a reversion to what he terms "common sense" strategies that prioritize safety and efficiency over what he disparagingly referred to as the "Green New Scam" initiatives.
"It’s a new day in America, where common sense is in the driver’s seat. Our roads, rails, skies, and waters will be safer for it. The public wants to see their hard-earned dollars going towards safety and efficiency standards – not woke DEI or American Energy-killing ideas," Duffy stated, according to the Department of Transportation press release.
Duffy's announcement outlines the administration's broader objective to repeal a series of regulations and guidelines instituted between January 20, 2021, and January 20, 2025, which pertained to a variety of social and environmental concerns. These include references to climate change, greenhouse gas emissions, racial equity, gender identity, diversity goals, environmental justice, and specific programs such as the Justice 40 Initiative.
According to DOT, Specifically, the letter addressed to grantees mentioned that President Trump's executive orders instruct "Federal agencies, where and as consistent with law, to identify and eliminate all orders, directives, rules, regulations, notices, guidance documents, funding agreements, programs, and policy statements, or portions thereof, which were authorized, adopted, or approved between noon on January 20, 2021 and noon on January 20, 2025, and which reference or relate in any way to climate change," among other targeted issues. This sweeping rollback is part of a campaign pledge made by President Trump to curtail what he has frequently criticized as overreaching policies of his predecessor.
