By CatholicVote | Created at 2025-01-16 22:36:16 | Updated at 2025-01-31 00:21:14
2 weeks ago
CV NEWS FEED // Indiana Republican Gov. Mike Braun eliminated diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives from the state government Tuesday just after his inauguration.
Braun signed over a dozen executive orders this week, one of which will remove all DEI positions, departments, activities, procedures, and programs from the state government and ban required pronoun disclosures.
“The intention of this Executive Order is to assure the executive branch of Indiana is in compliance with the decision of the United States Supreme Court in Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College, 143 S.Ct. 2141 (June 29, 2023),” the document states.
In June 2023, the Supreme Court ruled that racial preferences in college admissions programs violate the 14th Amendment.
As CatholicVote reported, “The decision reigns in unchecked ‘affirmative action’ for institutions of higher education in the United States.”
According to Braun’s administration, DEI will be replaced with MEI, which stands for merit, excellence, and innovation.
Braun was sworn in Monday.
In his inauguration speech, Braun said, “The opportunity ahead is far more significant and I am optimistic that the next four years see not only a change in leadership at the state and federal levels, but also a transfer of assumed power from the federal government back to the states.”
“We can be the risk-takers and trailblazers that Hoosiers deserve in leadership, or maintain the status quo,” he added.
Braun’s decision aligns with a culture-shift leading up to the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump.
A number of major companies have recently backed off DEI initiatives, including McDonald’s, Walmart, American Airlines, and, most recently, Meta.
CatholicVote reported earlier this week: “Conservative scholar Christopher Rufo weighed in on the recent decision by billionaire Mark Zuckerberg to end far-left diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs at his technology conglomerate Meta Platforms Inc. (‘Meta’).”
Rufo wrote: “The most important signal emanating from this decision is not about a particular shift in policy, however, but a general shift in culture.”
On Tuesday, Braun stated on X (formerly Twitter): “Today I’m excited to announce a series of bold actions that will make Indiana’s state government leaner, more efficient, and better aligned with the needs of Hoosiers.”
Today, I’m excited to announce a series of bold actions that will make Indiana’s state government leaner, more efficient, and better aligned with the needs of Hoosiers.
Through these Executive Orders, we are delivering on our promise to streamline operations, enhance… pic.twitter.com/Lw1ziMuMI6
The executive order ends by stating: “The Chief Equity, Inclusion, and Opportunity Office with the Governor’s Office is hereby closed.”
