Gov. Braun ends DEI initiatives, sparks debate among local leaders

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Governor Mike Braun's decision to eliminate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives is more than just a policy change.

Local leaders say the executive order is reshaping how the State of Indiana approaches hiring, workplace culture and the economy.

The orders will ban state agencies from funding DEI programs, removing pronoun disclosure policies, and even officially closing the Chief Equity, Inclusion, and Opportunity office.

State agencies have been required to submit compliance reports by July 1 on all DEI programs but Black Lives Matter member Tiana Batiste- Wadell says the fight is far from over.

“Just the work that Black Lives Matter does for racial healing and just the oppression that still exists, we still gotta find equity, we still have to find equity and just humanity so that’s not going away,” said Wadell.

For the last year, governments and companies have axed using diversity, equity, and inclusion, while others embraced the initiatives, all sparked by the supreme court ruling on affirmative action in June 2023.

Local leaders say Braun's actions came as no surprise and they were preparing how these changes will impact the community.

State Representative Earl L. Harris Jr. of the Indiana House of Democratic Caucus argues that eliminating DEI will erase years of progress made by creating fair hiring practices and equal representation across the state.

“We're seeing things that people have worked to gain that really have to do with their identity, and it's their identity they should be able to have control of, not someone that they don’t know, not someone that uses the stroke of a pen to change that,” said Harris Jr.

Braun is looking to transform DEI programs with a renewed focus for MEI, merit, excellence and innovation. This change will prioritize hiring based on qualifications rather than identity.

Indiana Congressman District 2 Rudy Yakym says he fully supports this transition for Hoosiers.

 “I fully support Governor Braun and his decision to restore merit-based initiatives within the state government. Hoosiers want our government to be focused on delivering results not fulfilling quotas. Governor Braun is off to a great start in making Indiana an even better place to work and live. I look forward to doing everything he can to partner with Governor Braun so that Indiana can thrive for generations to come,” said Yakym.

The long-term impact of this executive order remains unknown as agencies are required to revise or eliminate their DEI programs for compliance by April 30.