Portland Mayor Keith Wilson has directed city bureaus to revise the language of programs benefiting minority groups in order to adhere to President Donald Trump’s anti-diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) mandates. In a letter outlining his executive order, Wilson stated, “This means that city programs and services cannot favor groups classified as ‘protected classes’ based on factors like race or gender.”
This decision represents the most significant policy shift in the city in response to Trump’s agenda during his second term. Wilson emphasized that Trump has threatened to withhold federal funding from cities that do not comply with these directives. Portland currently relies on approximately $350 million in federal grants for various initiatives, primarily affecting housing and transportation projects, which constitute about 4% of the city’s annual budget.
“While this decision is difficult, it is in the best interest of Portlanders,” Wilson remarked. “Losing federal funding would negatively impact the very individuals our programs aim to assist.”
This marks Wilson’s first executive order and is a direct reaction to an order signed by Trump in January, which warned that federal grant dollars could be withheld from cities whose policies violate the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The current U.S. Department of Justice has indicated that this could cover policies prioritizing specific races or genders over others.
The mayor’s office estimates that this could affect around 75 city programs and policies, including initiatives that prioritize contracts with minority-owned businesses or require the city to interview qualified women and people of color for bureau director positions. Some council members have expressed concerns that this could also impact the Portland Clean Energy Fund, a voter-approved initiative that has generated over a billion dollars for climate-related programs, including job training and grants for marginalized communities.
In a press release regarding the order, a spokesperson for Wilson mentioned that some changes would be straightforward, such as “updating language to clarify that a program or resource is available to all Portlanders.” The release emphasized that the order does not eliminate “most” of the city’s DEI initiatives, though it remains uncertain which specific programs may be affected.
City Administrator Michael Jordan will oversee the policy language changes across city departments, with work set to commence in the coming weeks. The city faces a tight deadline, needing to finalize paperwork with the federal government by August to secure $31 million in anticipated federal grants. Signing these documents confirms that no city policies violate anti-discrimination laws.
Portland has attempted to challenge this financial threat through legal avenues. In May, the city joined a lawsuit against the administration’s restrictions on grant funding tied to non-compliance with Trump’s DEI, immigration, and transgender rights orders. However, this legal challenge remains unresolved as grant deadlines approach.
Accepting federal funding without altering city policies related to race and gender carries risks. In May, the DOJ launched a program to investigate whether federal fund recipients “knowingly violate federal civil rights laws.” Cities found in violation could face significant repercussions, including potential jail time for the officials who signed the grant agreements.
In a broader context, other jurisdictions have also begun to revise their equity and inclusion initiatives in response to similar pressures. Clackamas County eliminated its equity and inclusion office, while Deschutes County voted to dissolve its diversity committee. The Port of Portland rescinded its social equity policies, and Washington County recently revised its equity policies to maintain access to federal funding.
