When

the long-standing Executive Order 11246 was rescinded on January 21, 2025, and Executive Order 14173, titled Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity was introduced, contractors were left confused and unsure how to proceed. With no definition of what constitutes “illegal DEI and DEIA policies”, employers began to make changes to their hiring policies, employer branding, and internal programs, including employee resource groups (ERGs), to align with the new order. Six months into the new order, questions remain. One such question is, “How will these changes affect our culture and employees sense of belon

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ing?” I was recently contacted by