The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, known as NASEM, is a respected organization that has been around for 162 years. It explores many important topics, with a strong focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (D.E.I.) in recent years.
However, big changes happened on January 31 when the Trump administration issued a “stop work” order. This led NASEM to shut down its Office of Diversity and Inclusion and remove key links related to D.E.I. from its website. Now, the site is more focused on topics like artificial intelligence and building a strong economy.
This shift shows the impact of President Trump’s executive order that affects D.E.I. initiatives across the U.S. Many scientific organizations, both public and private, are feeling the pressure. This crackdown is changing how science is studied and explored in many areas.
Other federal agencies are also adjusting their policies. NASA removed inclusivity requirements from several programs. The National Institutes of Health has dropped the application for its new Environmental Justice Scholars Program. Meanwhile, the Department of Energy has taken down pages that highlighted their commitment to diversity and has suspended promotions for inclusive research.
Despite attempts to reach out for comments, these agencies did not respond.
Many organizations launched D.E.I. programs to address the historical lack of representation in the sciences. A 2021 report revealed that only 35% of STEM workers were women, 9% were Black, and less than 1% were Indigenous.
These changes raise important questions about the future of diversity in science and the broader impact on society. It’s crucial to keep discussing and advocating for inclusivity to ensure that everyone has a fair opportunity in these fields.
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