No matter who you supported in the last election, I hope you are encouraged by recent developments from the federal government in supporting equality, merit and free speech. Moving a nation ensnared in political divisiveness and identity balkanization, engineered by the far-left, towards the common-sense centershould be embraced by Americans of different political persuasions.

For those of us who have witnessed ideologically fueled declines in education, culture, governance and society since 2020, the fresh array of executive actions taken to reclaim our country’s foundational values since January 20 are the changes we have long needed. Specifically, these include executive orders ending federal diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs, combatting racial discrimination in both public and private sectors, restoring merit in the Federal Aviation Administration, and pushing back against radical transgenderism.

Once again, support for true equality is a national and bipartisan consensus. Revoking Executive Order 11246 (federal affirmative action with a focus on preferences rather than non-discrimination) mirrors the civil rights battles fought in California to prohibit government preferences. A growing majority of Californian voters got behind the passage of Prop. 209 in 1996 and reaffirmed the state’s ban on race-based affirmative action by rejecting Prop. 16 in 2020.

The proclamation to “forge a society that is colorblind and merit-based” on Inauguration Day not only captures the American spirit, but also echoes the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., that Americans should “not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” Pernicious racial politics and impulses for tribalism have poisoned American society for so long that decisive changes from top down are necessitated.

There are even positive changes at the state level. In response to a federal civil rights complained filed by Parents Defending Education – a CFER partner, the Los Angeles Unified School District has opened its $120 million Black Student Achievement Plan to all students based on academic need. Just around the New Year, CFER took Sacramento County to court to challenge its race-based child welfare program.

Governor Newsom’s proposed 2025-26 state budget does not contain any funding plans for AB 101 (Ethnic Studies Mandate). If the finalized budget stays the same, the mandate for the controversial subject to become a high school graduation requirement will not go into effect. Following the budget release, the Palo Alto Unified School District dropped the ethnic studies requirement and paused the course.

However, ideologues and progressive bureaucrats are beginning the resistance with religious fervor. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, one of the first higher education institution to reinstate standardized testing in admissions and rescind DEI mandates for faculty hiring/promotion, still requires some of its graduate school applicants to submit DEI essays. The California State University (CSU) runs a K-5 teacher training program that focuses on recruiting male teachers of color. CSU, a public state university that should observe Prop. 209, is also a corporate partner to the PhD Project, a public-private partnership that provides certain business Ph.D. students with financial support on the basis of race.

Making policy adjustments at the federal level is only the beginning, which risks becoming merely symbolic without local enforcement. Let’s get to work to make sure the American dream of colorblind equality and meritocracy doesn’t just remain a dream.

If your local school district is teaching ethnic studies courses with a focus on identity, oppression, systemic racism…, urge your school board and superintendent to reconsider the curriculum. Without state funding, local schools are not required to mandate ethnic studies. Please make this known to your local education officials. CFER’s “indoctrination” database can help you see if your local school district is currently teaching that.

Last but not least, please alert CFER to policies, curriculums and initiatives that are discriminatory and potentially unconstitutional. We will take immediate action to challenge such practices through multiple channels. We are a watchdog determined to safeguard equality and merit via legal advocacy, grassroots organizing, media outreach and more. If you believe in CFER’s resolve and delivery, I hope you will consider us in your charitable giving!

Thank you!