Voters back Trump’s end of DEI programs, poll shows, as federal deadline looms

Just two days into his term, President Donald Trump is making waves in Washington, and a new Fox News poll shows voters are behind him. On Monday, President Trump signed an executive order ending federal diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and initiatives.

Nearly a third of voters (29%) agreed that it is “extremely important” that President Trump focus on getting DEI out of government. Broken down by party, 44% of Republicans, 16% of Democrats and 24% of independents want the president to eliminate federal DEI initiatives.

Before this voteFox News sampled 1,015 registered voters who provided their responses via landlines, cell phones and online survey links received via text message. The phone numbers were randomly selected using a proportional-to-size method, meaning that phone numbers are proportionally representative of the number of voters in all regions across the state. The results have a margin of error of ±3 percentage points.

Trump signs documents as he issues orders and pardons to defendants Jan. 6 in the Oval Office of the White House on Inauguration Day, Jan. 20, 2025. (Reuters/Carlos Barria)

“Individual dignity, hard work and excellence are fundamental to American greatness,” the White House wrote in a statement about the order. “Every man and woman should have the opportunity to go as far as their hard work, individual initiative and skills can take them. In America, excellence, grit and determination are our strengths.”

The federal Office of Personnel Management on Tuesday notified agency and department heads to begin taking steps to close all DEI offices by the end of the day Wednesday and place government employees in those offices on paid leave.

WHITE HOUSE OPM ORDERS ALL OFFICES TO BEGIN SHUTDOWN ON DAY WEDNESDAY

Trump holds a document on the day he issues orders and pardons to defendants on January 6 in the Oval Office of the White House on January 20, 2025. (Reuters/Carlos Barria)

President Trump’s victory, particularly his victory in the popular vote, was seen as a resounding rejection of DEI and “wokeness” in general. One particularly effective ad, which proved devastating to Democrats, used the slogan “Kamala is for them/them, President Trump is for you.” Many voters cited inflation and rising prices, as well as cultural issues, as reasons to support President Trump.

Trump targets gender identity and diversity in executive orders. (Getty Images/AP)

IS WOKE TIME OVER?

On June 25, 2021, just over six months into his presidency, President Joe Biden signed an executive order to “strengthen the federal workforce by promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.”

“To further promote fairness in the federal government, this order states that it is the policy of my administration to cultivate a workforce that draws from the diversity of the entire nation,” the 2021 order read. “As the nation’s largest employer, the federal government shall be a model for diversity, equality, inclusion and accessibility, where all employees are treated with dignity and respect.”

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DEI became a focus of US culture wars in 2020 following the death of George Floyd, sparking a national conversation about race as well as riots that lasted for months. Former President Biden would go on to win his election the following November and sign the executive order just over a year after Floyd’s death.