By Asad el Malik

Introduction: The Trump Administration’s Renewed Impact on African Americans

On January 20, 2025, Donald J. Trump was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States, marking an unprecedented return to power after his first administration ended in January 2021. With this new term, Trump wasted no time implementing policies that directly impact African Americans, particularly in the areas of federal employment, education, and civil rights protections. His renewed emphasis on “America First” policies, a more aggressive stance on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, and his push for education and workforce deregulation signal a significant rollback of gains made by Black Americans in previous administrations.

The Trump administration started with a flurry of anti-black actions. For example, the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), in a directive, ordered an immediate halt to all activities related to Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Black History Month, and Juneteenth.

One of the most immediate policy shifts came in the form of executive orders. One of the first,  Executive Order 14151 ended DEI programs across all federal agencies and federally funded institutions  arguing that DEI initiatives are “illegal and immoral discrimination.” Trump’s Executive Order 14170, effectively banned federal agencies from considering race in hiring and promotion decisions. This move directly threatens African American federal employees, who have historically benefited from equal opportunity programs in federal employment. With Black Americans comprising nearly 20% of the federal workforce—a sector that has long been a pillar of Black middle-class stability—the dismantling of these initiatives could have devastating economic effects.

Additionally, Trump’s Department of Education has begun scaling back initiatives for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).  While his administration has publicly stated that it supports HBCUs, early budget proposals eliminate Title III funding, which has been critical in supporting faculty development, student scholarships, and infrastructure improvements at these institutions. Cuts to Pell Grants and federal student loan forgiveness programs will also disproportionately impact HBCUs and Black students, who graduate with the highest student debt burden of any racial group. These changes have sparked backlash from Black educators, HBCU presidents, and civil rights organizations, who argue that Trump’s policies could cripple institutions that have historically been safe havens for Black academic excellence.

Beyond employment and education, Trump’s second administration has doubled down on policies that undermine civil rights protections. Under his administration, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division has attempted to reverse many protections including voting  rights violations. These policies bear a striking resemblance to the post-Reconstruction era, when federal protections for African Americans were dismantled, allowing for the rise of Jim Crow laws that disenfranchised African voters and stripped away economic opportunities.

This policy brief will explore the renewed impact of the Trump administration on African Americans, focusing on the elimination of DEI in federal employment, the erosion of HBCU support, economic setbacks, and threats to civil rights. As history has shown, federal policies play a critical role in shaping Black economic and political progress, and Trump’s return to office may mark a dangerous shift toward a new era of systemic racial rollback.

The Federal Government as a Lifeline for African Americans

For much of American history, the federal government has been a critical pillar of economic stability for African Americans, providing employment opportunities that have served as a pathway to the Black middle class. Unlike the private sector—where hiring discrimination and wage disparities have persisted—the federal government has historically offered greater job security, benefits, and equitable wages to Black workers. However, with Trump’s return to office in 2025, the dismantling of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, along with broader changes in federal hiring policies, threatens to reverse decades of progress and disproportionately harm Black employees.

Federal Jobs as an Economic Foundation for African Americans

The federal government has played a crucial role in Black economic advancement, particularly after the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. During the era of Jim Crow segregation, African Americans were often excluded from skilled labor jobs, unions, and executive positions in the private sector. However, following the passage of Civil Rights legislation and the introduction of affirmative action policies, the federal workforce became one of the most stable and reliable sources of employment for African Americans.

Historically, the federal government was one of the first employers to offer African Americans equal opportunities in fields such as public administration, law enforcement, education, and healthcare. Programs initiated during the New Deal era and later expanded under President Lyndon B. Johnson’s Great Society initiatives helped open doors for African Americans in Social Security offices, the U.S. Postal Service, the Department of Defense, and other federal agencies.

Statistics: African Americans in Federal Employment

Today, African Americans make up 18.2% of the federal workforce, outpacing their representation in the general population (13.6%). According to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), federal jobs provide higher wages and better benefits than equivalent private-sector jobs, helping sustain Black households. Additionally:

• 28% of Black federal workers hold professional and administrative roles, compared to 17% in the private sector.
• 20% of Black workers are employed in the public sector.
• Black federal employees are more likely than their white counterparts to hold unionized positions, which protect against wage discrimination and unjust termination.

These numbers demonstrate that federal employment has long been a stabilizing force for Black workers, offering economic mobility, retirement security, and opportunities for advancement that the private sector often fails to provide.

The Trump Administration’s Attack on DEI in Federal Employment

Executive Orders: Ending Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Programs

In 2020, during his first term, Trump issued Executive Order 13950, which banned federal agencies and contractors from conducting DEI training. The order specifically targeted programs addressing racial bias, systemic discrimination, and unconscious bias training, arguing that they promoted “anti-American propaganda”. Although President Biden rescinded the order in 2021, Trump’s 2025 return to office has led to the reimplementation of similar policies, now expanded to eliminate race-conscious hiring and promotion initiatives.

Within hours of taking office, Trump had:

• Abolished federal DEI offices across all agencies.
• Prohibited race-conscious hiring and promotions, limiting pathways for Black employees to advance.
• Cut federal funding for DEI-related initiatives in government contracts and grant programs.

These actions effectively erase decades of policies designed to address racial disparities and make it more difficult for Black employees to access career advancement opportunities in federal agencies.

Impact on Hiring & Promotions

Without DEI programs, African Americans working in federal agencies face:

• Fewer promotions into senior leadership roles, as diversity targets have been removed.
• A decline in Black hiring at agencies where DEI initiatives previously played a role in ensuring equitable representation.
• A resurgence of racial bias in performance evaluations, hiring committees, and disciplinary actions.

A 2020 report from the Center for American Progress found that public sector jobs significantly improve Black employees’ upward mobility. Under the new Trump administration, hiring disparities will likely widen once again, resembling pre-Civil Rights era employment discrimination pushing many Black households out of the middle-class.

Response from Organizations & Legal Challenges

The rollback of DEI programs has triggered significant pushback from advocacy groups and lawmakers, including:

• The NAACP Legal Defense Fund, which has already filed lawsuits arguing that the policy violates several provisions of the Constitution, including the First and Fifth Amendments.
• The Congressional Black Caucus, said the removal of independent commissioners of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) “will leave millions of hard working Americans vulnerable to illegal workplace discrimination.”
• The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), “filed suit against the Trump administration challenging efforts to politicize the civil service through illegal executive orders.”

Despite these challenges, the Trump administration has doubled down on its opposition to DEI, calling for a colorblind and merit-based” society. The broader implications suggest that African Americans could face a return to employment barriers reminiscent of past eras of racial exclusion.

Comparison to Reconstruction: The Dismantling of Freedmen’s Bureau Protections

The elimination of DEI programs under Trump’s second term closely mirrors what happened after Reconstruction (1865-1877), when the federal government withdrew protections for Black workers and allowed discriminatory and unfair labor practices to dominate the Southern economy.

After the Compromise of 1877, federal protections that had once protected newly freed African Americans in the South were systematically removed, forcing Black workers into low-wage agricultural and domestic labor. Today, the removal of DEI programs could lead to a similar economic regression, where Black professionals are pushed out of leadership roles and denied equitable hiring opportunities in government.

Just as Jim Crow laws restricted Black economic mobility in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Trump’s dismantling of DEI protections threatens to relegate African American workers to lower-paying and less stable positions within the federal workforce.

Trump’s HBCU Promises vs. Actions

The 2017 Executive Order on HBCUs: Symbolism Over Substance?

In February 2017, during his first term, Trump signed  Executive Order 13779 on HBCUs, moving the White House Initiative on HBCUs from the Department of Education to the White House. At the time, Trump and his administration framed this as a major step to prioritize HBCUs. However, many Black educators and policy analysts questioned whether this move was symbolic rather than substantive.

• What Changed? Moving the initiative to the White House did not automatically lead to increased funding or policy changes benefiting HBCUs.
• What Didn’t Change? The initiative still lacked authority over budget decisions, meaning it had little impact on actual funding allocations.

Critics argued that the executive order was largely performative, allowing Trump to claim he was pro-HBCU while simultaneously undermining student financial aid programs that these institutions rely on.

Budget Cuts to Education: Pell Grants & Federal Aid

One of the most significant ways the first Trump administration harmed HBCUs was through proposed cuts to the Pell Grant program—a move that disproportionately impacted HBCU students.

• Pell Grants: Over 75% of HBCU students rely on Pell Grants to cover tuition. If the Trump administration’s budget proposal in 2025 includes reductions in Pell Grant funding and restrictions on year-round eligibility, will effectively make it harder for low-income students to afford college.
• Work-Study Cuts: Federal work-study programs, which allow students to earn money while enrolled, may also be slashed, further limiting financial aid options.

The cumulative impact of these cuts means that fewer Black students can afford HBCUs, leading to lower enrollment rates, financial instability for institutions, and potential school closures.

Beyond Pell Grants, Trump’s Department of Education has paused applications for student loan forgiveness which means HBCU students and others will not be able to access income-based repayment options. This could lead to loan defaults which significantly impact credit options.

Comparison to Post-Reconstruction Disinvestment

The Trump administration’s approach to HBCU funding and federal support bears striking similarities to the post-Reconstruction era, when the federal government abandoned Black schools and educational institutions.

After the Compromise of 1877, federal protections and funding for Black communities dried up, leaving Black students with underfunded schools, fewer resources, and limited access to higher education. Southern states actively defunded Black schools, leading to generational educational disparities that persisted for decades under Jim Crow segregation.

The lesson from history is clear: When the federal government withdraws support for Black education, the long-term consequences are devastating. Without significant resistance from HBCU leaders, civil rights organizations, and Black lawmakers, Trump’s second term could result in widespread financial struggles for HBCUs, forcing some to close their doors permanently.

Conclusion

The policies of the second Trump administration have introduced significant setbacks for African Americans, particularly in the areas of federal employment, education, and civil rights protections. The dismantling of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, coupled with new hiring policies that eliminate race-conscious recruitment and promotion, directly threatens Black professionals in the federal workforce. Given that African Americans comprise nearly 20% of federal employees, the impact of these changes extends beyond individual job losses—it represents a systemic economic regression that could undermine generations of Black middle-class stability. These policy shifts mirror the post-Reconstruction era, where federal withdrawal from civil rights protections led to widespread economic marginalization for African Americans.

Similarly, the Trump administration’s approach to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) has raised deep concerns. While Trump previously claimed support for HBCUs, his actual policies—may include the elimination of Title III funding, cuts to Pell Grants, and the rollback of student loan forgiveness programs—all of which place these institutions in financial jeopardy. Trump’s policy positions threaten the long-term sustainability of HBCUs,  institutions that have historically served as pillars of Black education and professional development. 

In response to these sweeping policy rollbacks, several key recommendations emerge to safeguard African Americans’ civil rights and economic stability:

1. Legislative Protections for Federal DEI Initiatives – Congress must pass legislation that safeguards DEI programs within federal agencies, ensuring that future administrations cannot dismantle these protections through executive orders alone.
2. Restoration and Expansion of HBCU Funding – Federal funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) must be reinstated and expanded, with specific provisions ensuring that Pell Grants and loan forgiveness programs remain accessible to students from marginalized communities.
3. Strengthened Voting Rights Protections – Lawmakers must push for a new Voting Rights Act to counter state and federal efforts aimed at restricting ballot access for African Americans, ensuring protections against voter suppression and gerrymandering.
4. Federal Oversight on Workplace Equity – The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) should be empowered with greater authority to monitor, investigate, and penalize discriminatory hiring practices in both federal and private sectors, reinforcing accountability for racial equity in employment.

Ultimately, the Trump administration’s policies represent a deliberate and systematic rollback of gains made by African Americans in employment, education, and civil rights. The parallels to the Reconstruction era’s abrupt end serve as a cautionary reminder that Black progress in America has never been guaranteed and can be reversed through federal policy shifts. The question moving forward is whether African American communities, advocacy groups, and lawmakers can successfully push back against these changes—or whether the nation is entering a new phase of institutionalized racial regression. The stakes could not be higher, as the policies being enacted today will have lasting consequences for generations to come.