
The executive order, “Reforming the Federal Hiring Process and Restoring Merit to Government Service,” lays the groundwork for a drastic shift in how hiring and workforce diversity will be handled within the federal government. While the intention is to promote merit-based hiring, its impact on disability inclusion is alarming. The order directly undermines efforts to support and include people with disabilities, weaponizing ableism throughout federal government processes.
The order mandates that hiring practices be based solely on merit, but in doing so, it fails to account for systemic barriers disabled individuals face in securing government employment. By focusing exclusively on merit and efficiency, it disregards the importance of affirmative action and inclusive practices that ensure disabled individuals are provided equal opportunities. This has the potential to diminish efforts to remove discriminatory barriers and to ensure that federal positions are accessible to all qualified individuals, regardless of disability.
Furthermore, the order directs federal agencies to streamline hiring, but without the requirement to actively seek out and address disparities faced by individuals with disabilities in the recruitment process. There’s no mention of promoting equal access, accommodations, or the kinds of proactive policies necessary for true inclusion. This neglects the reality that many disabled individuals face significant hurdles that merit-based hiring alone will not overcome.
The broader effects on the private sector are even more troubling. The order’s framework, while focused on federal agencies, may encourage similar practices across private companies that contract with the government. The shift to merit-based hiring alone, without consideration of affirmative action or diversity, can risk alienating people with disabilities in the private sector as well. In a society where people with disabilities continue to be underrepresented, this move could exacerbate existing inequities and limit opportunities for an already marginalized group.
Based on Merit: The Harmful Expectations Targeting the Private Sector
When the government dictates hiring practices based on narrow, merit-only criteria, it sends a dangerous message to the free market, especially to companies that pride themselves on being inclusive employers. The role of the private sector in setting their own diversity policies should not be dictated by government intervention that might compromise the inclusion of people with disabilities. By reducing the ability to prioritize diversity and inclusion, the government risks further entrenching ableism within both public and private sectors, limiting the potential for real, lasting change in disability inclusion.
The broader implications aimed at the private sector, where the order’s direction to investigate DEI practices signals a heavy-handed approach to enforcing compliance. Threatening legal action against private companies if they do not align with the government’s narrow vision of merit-based hiring and excluding DEI initiatives jeopardizes the hard-won progress made by disability rights advocates.
Again, this attempt to regulate the morals and behaviors of the free market risks further marginalizing disabled individuals and stifles the growth of a diverse, inclusive economy. The danger lies in how the government, under the guise of protecting civil rights, could hinder the private sector’s ability to foster environments where people with disabilities can thrive—ultimately threatening their rights and access to opportunities for decades to come.
The End of DEI: A Step Back for Disability Rights in America
The accompanying fact sheets “President Donald J. Trump Protects Civil Rights and Merit-Based Opportunity by Ending Illegal DEI” and “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity” confirm the significant threats to the advancement of disability rights in the United States.


These policies frame diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) initiatives as discriminatory and prioritize so-called “merit-based” hiring over intentional inclusion efforts. By ending DEI and DEIA programs, the administration dismantles measures that address systemic barriers faced by individuals with disabilities in education, employment, and public life. Such programs are crucial for creating equitable opportunities and ensuring representation for disabled individuals who often encounter bias and exclusion in the workplace and beyond.
From Inclusion to Exclusion? Are Disability Rights in Peril?
These actions signal a retreat from the commitment to disability rights, undermining decades of progress toward a more inclusive society.
Specifically, the fact sheet criticizes disability-inclusive hiring practices within agencies like the FAA, calling them “illegal” and claiming they prioritize diversity over excellence. This rhetoric stigmatizes people with disabilities and perpetuates the misconception that inclusivity undermines merit, rather than recognizing the expertise and capabilities individuals with disabilities bring to their roles.
Additionally, by repealing DEI and DEIA initiatives, the administration weakens enforcement mechanisms designed to promote accessibility and equal opportunities under laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Without intentional policies to address systemic inequities, progress in areas such as workplace accommodations, accessible infrastructure, and representation of people with disabilities in leadership is likely to stall or regress.
Unite for Change Let’s Harness Communication to Advance Disability Rights and Inclusion
This policy threatens to reverse the progress we have fought for in creating a more inclusive and accessible workplace. It’s imperative that we remain vigilant and push back against policies that reduce the focus on accessibility and equity in government and private sector hiring practices. People with disabilities deserve more than just a seat at the table—they deserve a fair chance at meaningful employment and the right to participate fully in every aspect of society.
Now, more than ever, the disabled community must unite and stand together to protect the hard-fought rights won by those who came before us. By organizing, advocating, and amplifying our voices, we can hold policymakers accountable and ensure that inclusion, equity, and accessibility remain at the forefront of our nation’s priorities. Let’s join forces and keep pushing forward to a future where no one is left behind.
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