The Trump administration is taking steps to challenge sanctuary city policies by directing federal prosecutors to investigate and potentially prosecute state and local officials who refuse to enforce immigration laws. A recent memo from acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove stressed that federal law prohibits resistance to immigration enforcement by state and local governments.

Alongside this, the administration has ordered the closure of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) offices within federal agencies, placing employees on paid leave. All related programs and contracts are also set to be terminated, signaling a shift in policy towards DEI initiatives.

In line with these actions, President Trump signed executive orders aimed at ending race- and sex-based preferences in federal hiring. He also emphasized that discrimination protections should be based on individual merit rather than group identity, arguing that DEI policies had led to harmful preferences.

Trump claimed that these initiatives, particularly in fields like aviation, law enforcement, and government, had undermined safety and merit. The push against DEI programs reflects the administration’s broader stance on promoting individual merit over group-based policies.