Updated on October 21, 2020 to reflect the addition of two new signatories to the letter.

WASHINGTON — Today, global tech trade association ITI and a wide-ranging coalition of industry groups urged the Trump Administration to rescind its Executive Order (EO) on Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping. The letter was signed by ITI, Alliance for Digital Innovation, American Association of Advertising Agencies (4A’s), BSA | The Software Alliance, Cybersecurity Coalition, Entertainment Software Association, HR Policy Association, Internet Association, the National League of Cities, NCTA – The Internet & Television Association, TechNet, the U.S. Black Chambers, and XR Association.

Collectively, these eleven associations represent thousands of government contractors and millions of employees, all of whom will be directly impacted by this EO’s requirements to restrict existing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) training programs.

In the letter to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), the associations express concern that the EO fails to acknowledge the realities of ongoing racial inequality and inequities in America and represents an unwarranted intrusion into private sector efforts to combat systemic racism.

“This EO would undo progress made toward promoting racial equity and ensuring American businesses can attract the diverse talent they need to remain best-in-class,” wrote the groups in the letter.

“By prohibiting training on ‘divisive concepts’—including suggestions that America has lingering problems with racism or sexism or that an individual may be consciously or unconsciously biased against another based on race or sex—the EO appears to restrict certain types of training programs that seek to combat race or sex stereotyping. We simply do not agree that there is anything divisive about providing information that encourages our employees to treat all of their colleagues equally and with respect. That is how we help ensure a secure, productive, and equitable workplace for all Americans.

Read the letter here.

Related [Public Sector]