Across the country, American institutions are adjusting — or fracturing — under the weight of a rapidly shifting political landscape. From corporate boardrooms to disaster zones, the fallout of polarization is proving anything but abstract.
Corporate DEI Jobs Collapse Under Trump-Era Scrutiny
Once hailed as a corporate priority, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) roles are vanishing across America’s largest companies — casualties of a sweeping regulatory and cultural backlash under the Trump administration.
New data from Revelio Labs shows job postings for DEI roles have dropped by nearly 50% from pre-pandemic levels, plummeting to just 1,500 in 2025. That’s a steep fall from the 2022 peak of around 10,000.
Driving the decline is a January executive order signed by President Trump, which directs federal agencies to target “illegal private-sector DEI preferences” and enforces existing civil rights laws “without identity-based bias.” The FCC and financial regulators have echoed this position, using merger reviews and oversight powers to pressure companies to walk back DEI programs.
As major firms like Amazon, Walmart, and T-Mobile shed or rebrand their DEI departments, professionals in the space now find themselves pivoting. Many are dropping “DEI” from résumés entirely, viewing it as a liability. Still, some experts note that the underlying work isn’t disappearing — it’s just being folded into HR, education, or public affairs under different names.
FEMA Under Fire for Alleged Political Discrimination in Disaster Relief
A federal privacy review is raising alarms after finding that FEMA workers withheld disaster relief from homes displaying pro-Trump signs.
The Department of Homeland Security’s Privacy Office review reportedly uncovered systemic abuses dating back to Hurricane Ida in 2021. The revelations contradict sworn testimony from former FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, who had claimed that incidents of bias were isolated and being dealt with internally.
According to the report, a "hostile" classification allowed FEMA field workers to skip Trump-supporting homes, marking them for non-engagement, citing vague safety concerns outlined in agency field manuals. Critics argue the guidance allowed employees to forego outreach based on "discomfort" with political views — potentially violating the First Amendment and the Privacy Act.
“This really escalated in the last administration,” said one official involved in the review.
The review recommends significant reforms to eliminate subjective bias in aid distribution and prevent the collection of political intelligence on private citizens.
Democrats Worry Sherrill Could Underperform Amid Voter Apathy in NJ
In New Jersey, Democrats are sweating over what should be a relatively safe gubernatorial race. Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill — the frontrunner to succeed term-limited Gov. Phil Murphy — is facing growing concerns that she may fail to energize black and Hispanic voters, despite high-profile endorsements from figures like Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Gabby Giffords.
The fear isn’t just about turnout — it’s about enthusiasm. New Jersey has seen a shift in party registration since 2020, with Republicans gaining ground and Democrats losing over 2 million voters. One strategist told The Hill that minority voter apathy is a “real concern” for Democrats this cycle.
Critics within her own party say she’s running too cautiously — even “milquetoast” — and relying too heavily on positioning herself as the anti-Trump candidate.
“People think she’s not running the race she should be,” said one Democratic operative. “Putting all your marbles in Trump is a dangerous thing to do.”
A recent poll shows Sherrill leading Republican Jack Ciattarelli 52% to 45%, but the margin is thin in a state where Democrats once held a double-digit advantage. President Trump himself narrowed his 2020 loss in New Jersey to just 5 points in 2024 — another signal that the electoral math is shifting.
