Reuters’ U.S. opinion editor might find it bananas, but President Trump’s executive order banning federal funds from going toward training and workshops centered around critical race theory has been expanded, to the point where it also includes federal contractors — meaning companies that want to do business with the federal government will have to scrap all of their white fragility seminars too.
A few weeks ago, I BANNED efforts to indoctrinate government employees with divisive and harmful sex and race-based ideologies. Today, I've expanded that ban to people and companies that do business…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 22, 2020
…with our Country, the United States Military, Government Contractors, and Grantees. Americans should be taught to take PRIDE in our Great Country, and if you don’t, there’s nothing in it for you!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 22, 2020
Here’s Christopher Rufo, the driving force behind the effort, with a page-by-page look at the order:
VICTORY: The President has just signed a full Executive Order abolishing critical race theory from the federal government, the military, and all federal contractors.
The president has effectively declared war on CRT—and extended the battlefield to all of our institutions.
?
— Christopher F. Rufo (@realchrisrufo) September 22, 2020
To begin, the president explains that our nation was founded on the ideal that "all mean are created equal" and denounces critical race theory's "pernicious and false belief that America is an irredeemably racist and sexist country." pic.twitter.com/F8cif7egGt
— Christopher F. Rufo (@realchrisrufo) September 22, 2020
The President writes that the "malign ideology" of critical race theory "is now migrating from the fringes of American society and threatens to infect core institutions of country." He cites my original reporting on the Treasury Department, Argonne National Labs, and Sandia Labs. pic.twitter.com/M4Zx0fIlTS
— Christopher F. Rufo (@realchrisrufo) September 22, 2020
The ambition of the executive order is breathtaking: the President will prohibit federal funds from supporting critical race theory trainings in the federal government, in the military, and by all federal contractors. pic.twitter.com/OEafnbPggF
— Christopher F. Rufo (@realchrisrufo) September 22, 2020
The point on federal contractors is a major escalation: if a private company wants to work with the US government, they can no longer teach critical race theory anywhere in their offices. This could potentially disrupt CRT programs in half of the Fortune 500. pic.twitter.com/HXCPAaxkyR
— Christopher F. Rufo (@realchrisrufo) September 22, 2020
The executive order will also disrupt the flow of money to academia's critical race theory programs. The order stops all federal grants that support CRT—with the potential to cripple hundreds of academic projects moving forward. pic.twitter.com/h2CBH0oa6v
— Christopher F. Rufo (@realchrisrufo) September 22, 2020
Finally, the executive order has a strong enforcement component: all federal diversity programs must be approved directly by OMB and OPM, and agencies are directed to initiate adverse action proceedings against managers who continue to hold CRT trainings. pic.twitter.com/57rxMc5Fux
— Christopher F. Rufo (@realchrisrufo) September 22, 2020
The executive order also opens the legal floodgates: the President instructs the Attorney General to assess whether critical race theory trainings create a "hostile work environment" and constitute a violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. pic.twitter.com/AOjmyml7VY
— Christopher F. Rufo (@realchrisrufo) September 22, 2020
The President's executive order is nothing short of astonishing: he has used all of the mechanisms of power to disrupt the "ideological poison" of critical race theory—and immediately takes the fight to the bureaucracy, universities, and woke corporations. He is playing to win.
— Christopher F. Rufo (@realchrisrufo) September 22, 2020
When I began my reporting, I visualized a single goal: persuading the President of the United States to abolish critical race theory in the federal government.
With this executive order, he has gone much further—and taken a dramatic step towards saving the country. Swords up!⚔️
— Christopher F. Rufo (@realchrisrufo) September 22, 2020
Amazing!
— A. Hariharan (@_AHariharan) September 22, 2020
This is 100% excellent.
— Zhivago of Tookland (@raywatts) September 23, 2020
That is better than I realized.
— Paul Superapple (@paulsuperapple) September 23, 2020
Hot damn! It’s actually happening.
— ??SalossoJin?? (@Salosso) September 22, 2020
My cynical expectations that @realDonaldTrump would use CRT as culture war fodder are fading. This looks real progress, I’m glad to see continued and more direct action. I hope to see more
— Middle American (@MiddleA25260811) September 22, 2020
Thank goodness! Make sure it extends to all institutions that take government?, both public and private.
— Candace (@Candace_Bar) September 23, 2020
Thank you for your work @realchrisrufo. This is one of the most important subjects of our time (Postmodernism/Relativism/CRT). I would love to find a way to participate. I never thought I could vote for Trump, I may be reconsidering.
— Jon Raso (@jon_raso) September 22, 2020
Imagine if that man wasn't president. Nobody else would ever have the balls to do it.
— Keith Spot (@pickingmyspot) September 22, 2020
It’s just astonishing. It’s hard to overstate what a blow this is. A domestic version of Soliemani. As Chris correctly noted, the federal contractor’s clause has a stupendously long reach.
— Jeff Sechelski (@JeffSechelski) September 22, 2020
Excellent, excellent job @realchrisrufo ! Your efforts are paying noticeable dividends & I applaud the President for working quickly to ensure these hateful, divisive and immoral ideologies are stricken from the halls of our government institutions and their contractors! ??
— Murray ?? (@Rothbard1776) September 22, 2020
Brilliant thread. Thank you Christopher.
— Britt Park (@brittfpark) September 22, 2020
Absolutely outstanding.
— Terry Parker (@teealan) September 22, 2020
This is the sort of thing that only Donald Trump would have taken on — it would be nice if voters actually were told of the many things he’s actually achieved in three-and-a-half years.
Related:
Reuters editor calls White House order banning government training on critical race theory ‘bananas’ https://t.co/UhSfCT2nkh
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) September 23, 2020
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