Though President Trump issued an executive order banning governmentwide diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs on the day of his inauguration, two federal law enforcement agencies that operate near the White House continue to implement, celebrate, and promote controversial DEI initiatives launched under the Biden administration. The Capitol Police, which is charged with protecting Congress, still has an Office of Equity and Inclusion (OEI)—committed to fully imbedding DEI into the agency’s culture and purpose—that is carrying out a three-year Equity & Inclusion Strategic Plan launched in 2023. At a recent Senate appropriations hearing, Capitol Police Chief J. Thomas Manger requested a million dollars to keep his OEI office with a staff of nine open. Across the street Supreme Court of the United States Police, charged with protecting justices and employees, publicly celebrates DEI by bragging that 31% of its workforce is minority and 24% female. “The Supreme Court Police believe that diversity and inclusion are essential to the department’s success,” according to the agency’s website.

It appears that both federal law enforcement agencies are openly flouting the commander-in-chief’s January 20 order titled “Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs And Preferencing.” The president was quick to issue it because the “Biden administration forced illegal and immoral discrimination programs” into virtually all aspects of the federal government, in areas ranging from airline safety to the military. The order calls for the termination of all discriminatory programs including illegal DEI mandates, policies, preferences, and activities in the federal government. This specifically includes “Chief Diversity Officer” positions as well as special “equity action plans” and other initiatives that consider DEI rather than individual initiative, skills, performance, and hard work to reward employees. A few months later, President Trump issued another order banning DEI from the Foreign Service by, among other things, replacing DEI as a core percept from foreign service tenure and promotion criteria with individual dignity, hard work and excellence.

The Capitol and Supreme Court police departments are disregarding the governmentwide DEI ban, publicly celebrating their initiatives and continuing with their discriminatory programs. The Capitol Police, which has over 2,300 officers and civilian employees and an annual budget of approximately $460 million, maintains that DEI is “essential to law enforcement operations and effectiveness” and is moving forward—and asking American taxpayers to fund—a three-year Equity & Inclusion Strategic Plan launched in 2023 by Chief Diversity Officer Vilma Alejandro. “With our internal and external partners OEI –Office of Equity & Inclusion (OEI)—will actively engage in healing those who are hurting, fighting discrimination, creating opportunities, focusing on inclusion, and building awareness of systemic change needed to end disparities,” Alejandro writes in the strategic plan. “I want to reiterate, USCP is fully committed to integrating DEI into our operations and mission work. The diversity chief adds that she is laying down the foundation for this work to continue for years to come. Chief Manger writes in the equity and inclusion plan that “DEI isn’t about black versus white, or taking from some to give to others,” but rather about “comprehensive fairness.” A few weeks ago, he struggled to explain the importance of DEI when asking Congress to fund his initiative and nine-person office.

The Supreme Court Police has less than 200 officers, so its DEI program may not seem as impactful though it goes against the president’s order and sets a bad example for a federal agency. The department’s primary goal is to ensure the integrity of the Constitutional Mission of the Supreme Court by protecting justices, employees, guests, and visitors. Under Biden the federal law enforcement agency put a lot of focus on DEI and still likes to highlight that a substantial chunk of its 198 officers are minorities and women. A key concern of DEI quotas in law enforcement is the lowering of standards so minority applicants can qualify. The Biden administration filed civil rights lawsuits against jurisdictions nationwide for using standard aptitude tests to screen police officer and firefighter candidates, claiming that they discriminated against minorities. Earlier this year Attorney General Pam Bondi directed the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division to dismiss all the lawsuits.

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