Trump turns civil rights upside down in ‘biggest rollback’ since Reconstruction | CNN Politics

Summary of Trump's Actions on Civil Rights and Religious Freedom

The article details President Trump's actions that are perceived as a significant reversal of civil rights progress since the Reconstruction Era. This includes dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives across government departments, defunding programs supporting DEI, and potentially threatening funding to universities that maintain such programs. The article cites a presidential historian, who compares this to the rollback of progress following Reconstruction.

Key Actions and Their Impact

• Eliminating DEI Initiatives: The Trump administration is actively working to remove DEI programs from various governmental bodies, including the military and federal funding agencies.
• Targeting Diversity Efforts: Government officials have boasted about using taxpayer money to end diversity initiatives in states and cancelling contracts based on color of skin.
• Change in Civil Rights Division Focus: The head of the Department of Justice's Civil Rights division, created by the 1957 Civil Rights Act, is refocusing its efforts to combat anti-Christian bias, antisemitism, and “woke ideology”, leading to expected resignations.
• Pressure on Universities: Elite universities face funding cuts if they refuse to drop DEI programs.
• Selective Refugee Policy: While generally restricting refugee intake, the administration is accepting White South Africans who claim to be victims of racism.

Emphasis on Religious Freedom

Conversely, the Trump administration is aggressively pursuing policies to address what it perceives as anti-Christian bias. This includes establishing a task force dedicated to eradicating anti-Christian bias within the government. There is also a potential shift in Supreme Court interpretations regarding the separation of church and state, with a discussion on funding Catholic charter schools.

Concerns and Criticism

Critics, including religious leaders, express concern that the administration's focus on religious freedom might promote Christian nationalism and not represent mainstream Christian views. The article highlights a potential move away from the principles of religious freedom upon which the nation was founded.