President Donald Trump revoked the executive order underpinning the Labor Department office responsible for ensuring government contractors comply with anti-discrimination law and maintain affirmative action programs.

The DOL’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs polices some of the largest US companies that do work for the federal government, which pays out a total of hundreds of billions each year to contractors.

In a late Tuesday executive order, Trump said the OFCCP must immediately stop promoting diversity and affirmative action, and cease “allowing or encouraging” contractors and subcontractors to engage in “workforce balancing” based on race, sex, color, religion, national origin, and “sexual preference.”

Trump has jumped into action in weakening diversity, equity, and inclusion policies since his inauguration. He already signed a pair of executive orders on Jan. 20 that eliminated DEI programs within the federal government and restricted the definition of “gender” to male and female.

Trump’s sweeping new order Tuesday also aimed to “encourage” private-sector companies to end “illegal” DEI programs by redefining them as a form of discrimination.

He rescinded EO 11246, which in 1965 established key portions of the OFCCP’s authority. The agency separately has the power to enforce statutes that protect veterans and workers with disabilities.

Under the now...

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