In the midst of President Donald Trump’s war on diversity, equity and inclusion programs, Dallas is right to rethink how it can continue to open opportunities to those with the least access.
The president has signed executive orders this year forcing many cities to rethink some of their policies. One such order forbids federal grant recipients like Dallas to operate “any programs promoting DEI” in violation of anti-discrimination laws. Faced with the prospect of losing vital federal funds, the city has had little choice but to change course.
At the council’s direction, City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert in June instructed departments to stop using policies and programs that advance DEI.
Council members discussed how to proceed at a briefing earlier this month but didn’t make any final decisions. Policy recommendations are expected in September.
Opinion
For decades, Dallas has had some versions of rules on the books that encourage the city to have a certain amount of minority or women-owned businesses participate in city contracts. The current iteration is the Business Inclusion and Development plan.
Under Trump’s executive order, that’s kaput. City staff are considering a replacement that would instead prioritize local and small business for city contracts.
Dallas has also had to pause the use of its racial equity plan. Approved in 2022, it’s a document intended to “address racial and ethnic disparities in outcomes,” a city staffer explained.
City staff are proposing a transition to a “drivers of opportunity framework.” Though it’s still a work in progress, it would be based on indicators like public safety and well-being, gainful employment and high-quality education.
The city’s plan to reform these programs and others strike us as the right approach. DEI is likely to continue facing constitutional challenges, but the goal underpinning it is worthy and shouldn’t be lost.
We have just one note of caution for city leaders. The DEI programs intended to make sure contracts would involve minority and women-owned businesses have not always worked out.
The intention is to lift up those with the least opportunity; to give the little guy a fighting chance in the feeding frenzy to get a piece of the city contracting pie.
But contrary to that goal, many of the same people and companies have benefited from the program over the years, winning contracts over and over again. Commonly, they have not lacked in means and opportunity. The city’s proposed replacement must avoid those missteps.
Some have called on the city not to abandon DEI in the face of federal pressure, but that just isn’t an option. Dallas is on the right track, trying to preserve its equity goals without flouting national dictates. Now the trick is getting the details of the replacement programs right.