Despite only having been sworn in as president two days ago, US leader Donald Trump has today (22 Jan) revoked the 1965 Equal Employment Opportunity Act.

The Republican politician previously applied pressure onto the private sector to join an initiative against diversity programs, after ordering aviation officials to review their hiring process.

According to Reuters, Trump, 78, ordered that government DEI (diversity, equality and inclusion) employees would be placed on paid leave.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Act was previously put into place to both promote opportunities for and protect women, ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ people and other traditionally underrepresented groups within society.

It also prohibited discrimination in the workplace based on race, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, and marital or familial status.

Ever since it's formation 60 years ago, supporters have continually argued that the program is vital in order to address longstanding inequities and structural racism in the United States.

The order was signed by President Lyndon Johnson in 1965 as a means of protecting the rights of federal contracted employees, ensuring they remained free from discrimination.

As we say, however, as part of a new executive order, Trump has now revoked several pieces of legislation, including the DEI advocacy, and will seek to dissuade private companies using government contracts from hiring marginalised individuals.

The order has branded these practices...

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