DEI policies could be on chopping block in Washington County

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Washington County leaders are contemplating repealing their diversity, equity and inclusion policies.

On Tuesday, the Board of County Commissioners tabled an action that could have ended a February 2020 resolution in which officials committed to “fostering, supporting and strengthening” DEI in local programs and policies. While the vote involving the reversal of this resolution has been delayed, commissioners are expected to reconsider it at a later date.

This follows President Donald Trump’s January decision to issue an executive order against DEI practices in the U.S. and strip federal funding from organizations that support those initiatives. U.S. District Judge Adam Abelson granted a preliminary injunction that blocked the executive order in February, but an appeals court ruled in favor of the Trump administration the following month.

In response, multiple entities have removed their equity-related policies in an attempt to comply with federal regulations. The tabled Washington County resolution comes as commissioners weigh “an extremely difficult choice to either make changes to satisfy federal requirements and halt progress made by our County government in the area of diversity, equity and inclusion or lose critical funding and infrastructure necessary to provide services,” according to the proposal.

But opponents of the policy say rescinding the 2020 DEI resolution would send the wrong message to federal leaders and residents of one of Oregon’s most diverse counties.

“If we allow the Trump presidency to continue to dangle these funds above us as a method to enforce his immoral and illegal actions, then even more harm will be brought upon our community,” one testifier said.

Another testifier said rescinding the DEI resolution would show residents that their commissioners “were willing to give that up at the first opportunity in order to preserve any potential conflict with this administration.”

Other Portland area entities have already revoked similar policies and programs in response to Trump’s executive order.

In February, the City of Estacada voted to disband its DEI committee that had been formed amid the 2020 social justice protests. The Port of Portland revoked its DEI policies later in April.