"Initial Rescissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions." (01/20/25)

What is this?

Executive order 14148 is an enormous directive that has rescinded 68 executive orders and 11 presidential memoranda that President Biden ordered while in office. It told government leaders to immediately stop implementing DEI programs (which stands for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and are policies designed to promote fair representation and opportunities for different groups of people). The order also asked special advisors to look at everything the government did based on Biden's now canceled rules and decide what should be changed or gotten rid of. One notable result was that it shut down the National Law Enforcement Accountability Database, which was a system that tracked misconduct by federal police officers.

What is in it for us?

The most important potential effects on young adults and teens would likely come from the elimination of DEI programs in federal agencies and institutions. Young people applying for federal jobs, internships, or federally funded college programs might see changes in diversity and inclusion policies, potentially affecting opportunities for some groups. Additionally, the removal of the National Law Enforcement Accountability Database could impact how police misconduct is tracked and addressed, which might affect young people's interactions with federal law enforcement.

On the positive side, supporters argue that removing what they see as politically motivated policies could lead to more merit-based decision making in federal programs and hiring. Some young adults might benefit if new policies focus more on economic growth and job creation. However, it's important to note that many of these effects are somewhat of a reach since most teens and young adults don't directly interact with federal agencies on a daily basis.