California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, along with attorneys general from 11 other states, have issued a joint statement in response to recent executive orders by President Trump. These orders aim to dismantle diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) policies and programs.
The group of attorneys general stated: "President Trump’s executive orders are unnecessary and disingenuous. These orders have nothing to do with combatting discrimination. The Trump administration has longstanding civil rights laws at its disposal to combat real discrimination, and we would be willing partners if it chose to pursue this path."
They argue that the DEIA initiatives are consistent with state and federal anti-discrimination laws and foster environments where everyone can succeed. They criticized President Trump's claim that these initiatives contributed to a recent plane crash as "baseless and offensive."
"As state attorneys general representing tens of millions of American workers, we strongly oppose the President’s attempts to weaponize decades-old policies," they stated. The attorneys general emphasized that DEIA initiatives promote respect, understanding, and diverse perspectives without diminishing individual merit or lowering standards.
They concluded by reaffirming their commitment to enforcing civil rights laws: "We condemn discrimination in any form, and we stand in strong opposition to the President’s recent orders and the misleading narrative he has pushed to justify them."