Navigating Executive Orders on DEI in 2025
Virtual
Thursday, March 06, 2025
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Add to iCalendar
Eastern Standard Time
On January 21, 2025, President Trump issued the "Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity" Executive Order ("EO"), which seeks to eliminate "illegal preferences and discrimination" by discontinuing "race- and sex-based preferences" associated with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion ("DEI") programs. Among other things, the DEI EO directs the Attorney General to develop a "strategic enforcement plan" within 120 days directing each federal agency to identify "up to nine potential civil compliance investigations" of major private sector institutions. In light of these policy shifts and the current legal and political landscape, it is crucial for organizations to understand the potential implications for DEI programs and how best to navigate potential legal risk or risk of scrutiny.
We invite you to join our upcoming webinar where leaders from Covington’s Employment, White Collar, and Institutional Culture and Social Responsibility practices will dissect the recent EOs, discuss their immediate and long-term effects on DEI efforts, and provide actionable strategies to align with the new regulatory landscape. We will also address how to prepare for and respond to both civil and criminal investigations that may arise under the new directives and offer insights for how to best handle such inquiries.
- Understanding Policy Changes – Gain insights into the specifics of the recent EO’s, recent court rulings affecting their status, and their direct impact on existing DEI programs;
- Compliance Strategies – Learn how the DEI EO affects broader DEI efforts and strategies for ensuring compliance with current laws and assessing the legality of existing DEI initiatives; and
- Future Outlook – Discuss the potential long-term implications for federal contractors and private sector entities concerning DEI initiatives.