Yesterday, President Trump issued an executive order banning federal contractors from providing anti-racism and anti-sexism training to their employees. National Skills Coalition CEO Andy Van Kleunen issued the following statement:
“The President’s executive order expands on a previous order that ended anti-racism and anti-sexism trainings in federal agencies, including those agencies overseeing the administration of workforce development and education policies. National Skills Coalition unequivocally opposes these orders. In our Roadmap for Racial Equity and more recently in our Skills for An Inclusive Economic Recovery, National Skills Coalition has called for dismantling structural racism as a moral and economic imperative, including in workforce development and postsecondary education. While yesterday’s order applies only to federal contractors, it has the potential to have a significant chilling effect on federally-funded workforce organizations and postsecondary education institutions trying to understand and address the impacts of structural racism in their workplaces. These trainings are an essential part of broader efforts to drive inclusion and equity in our field. The President’s order protects and perpetuates structural racism and sexism.”
