Rutgers University has canceled its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) conference following changes in the White House administration.
As AFROTECH™ previously reported, President Donald Trump placed federal employees in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) roles on paid leave that went into effect immediately and “no later than 5:00pm EST” on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. This followed Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20 as “the agency takes steps to close/end all DEIA initiatives, offices and programs,” CNN reported.
Now Rutgers University, a predominantly white institution, has stated they have been asked to “cease all work under the auspices of the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility HUB at Jobs for the Future, which the U.S. Department of Labor funds,” NorthJersey.com reports.
This was confirmed by the school’s spokesperson, who stated it “was canceled at the direction of the U.S. Department of Labor, which ceased all work that it funds through the Jobs for the Future’s National Innovation Hub for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility. Most of the panelists were from Jobs for the Future and could not participate because of the executive orders that directed federal agencies to terminate federal contracts and grants related to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.”
Rutgers University’s decision drew immediate backlash from Newark, NJ, Mayor Ras Baraka, who, as noted by the New Jersey Globe, is running to succeed Gov. Phil Murphy in the 2025 gubernatorial race.
“Rutgers, and any other schools preemptively pulling DEI programming, is an utter failure of courage in the face of political foolishness,” he wrote on X. “We know better. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are not just buzzwords—they are proven strategies that make our workplaces more productive, our students more learned, and our economy stronger and more stable. More importantly, striving for equity is the right thing to do.”
Mayor Baraka also issued a call to action, urging corporations and private sectors to support their efforts to address attacks on DEI initiatives in the state to prevent a potential domino effect in favor of the conservative agenda.
He added, “But Rutgers should not feel alone in the face of this bully. I call on all private sector partners, responsible corporations, and those who believe in democracy to stand with our institutions against the threat of defunding. Collectively, we can give them the strength to lead the charge against these backward directives. Our state deserves better, and together, we can ensure that progress and inclusion stay at the heart of our values for all New Jerseyans.”
