Despite the Trump Administration waging a full-scale war on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, it has not resulted in a return to a so-called ‘merit-based’ system. Instead, it has given rise to a new “good ole boy” network — one that prioritizes ideology and loyalty over qualifications and competence. This shift has led to the elevation of individuals who, under the guise of opposing DEI, are selected based on their alignment with certain political and cultural beliefs rather than their ability to perform the job.
President Trump signed an executive order called Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity, which revoked Executive Order 11246 (Equal Employment Opportunity), which was signed by President Lyndon Johnson in 1965. The order issued by President Johnson required the federal government to make efforts to employ more women and people of color. The executive order signed by President Johnson survived numerous Republican presidents until the reelection of President Trump. The recession of this order has been applauded by many on the political right.
Many conservative movements believe affirmative action programs within the federal government are illegal because it violates the Civil Rights Act. But the irony is unmistakable: those decrying identity politics are now constructing an employment system driven by ideological identity.
The Return of the ‘Good Ole Boy’ System
Historically, workplaces operated under an informal but deeply entrenched system where hiring and advancement were based on personal connections rather than qualifications. This structure overwhelmingly benefited white men while locking out women, people of color, and other marginalized groups. DEI efforts sought to dismantle these barriers by ensuring that merit and opportunity were truly accessible to all. With DEI under siege, the old system is making a comeback but with a modern twist: Loyalty to a particular political ideology is the new currency.
Let’s look at the recent firing of General CQ Brown as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff by President Trump. General CQ Brown served his country honorably, and his main issue stems from releasing a video reflecting on his experiences as a Black fighter pilot following the brutal death of George Floyd. That expression of identity rubbed President Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth the wrong way. Many at the Pentagon wondered not if but when President Trump would give General Brown the axe. We soon learned it did not take much time as the Trump Administration informed General Brown that he was relieved as the Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman. President Trump then selected General Dan Caine to replace General Brown as the next Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman.
In his 2024 book “The War on Warriors,” Mr. Hegseth questioned whether General Brown was selected as the Joint Chiefs Chairman because he was Black.
“Was it because of his skin color? Or his skill?” he wrote. “We’ll never know, but always doubt — which on its face seems unfair to C.Q. But since he has made the race card one of his biggest calling cards, it doesn’t really matter much.”
When they met in Iraq six years ago, little-known retired three-star Air Force general Dan Caine endeared himself to President Trump. General Caine retired as a three-star lieutenant general. However, by statute, eligibility for appointment as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff requires prior service as either a combatant commander, the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, or the senior uniformed officer of a military service branch (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Space Force). Therefore, General Caine does not meet these statutory criteria and would not qualify for selection under current law.
However, that did not matter to many in the Trump Administration as the Republican-controlled Senate recently confirmed General Caine as the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, even though he does not meet the standards under federal statute. General Caine seemed to be tapped for the job due to his willingness to embrace the president. President Trump stated that during their meeting in Iraq in December 2018, General Caine wore a “Make America Great Again” hat, which violated military regulations prohibiting active-duty personnel from displaying political symbols or wearing partisan attire. It seems very clear that General Caine was allowed to become the next Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman because of his direct appeal to President Trump.
In this new landscape, experience, and expertise often take a backseat to performative allegiance to anti-DEI rhetoric. Across industries, individuals who publicly align themselves with right-wing politics or opposition to social justice initiatives are being handed leadership roles despite glaring deficiencies in their credentials. The irony is glaring: those who decried DEI as identity politics now participate in their version of affirmative action — one based on ideology rather than identity.
The Consequences of Ideological Hiring
This shift has profound implications. When hiring is dictated by political loyalty rather than competence, institutions suffer. Incompetence leads to poor decision-making, inefficiency, and, in some cases, ethical and legal violations. The erosion of DEI doesn’t just hurt marginalized groups — it hurts workplaces, industries, and society as a whole.
Let’s have an honest conversation for a second here. Do we seriously believe Kash Patel got the opportunity to become the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation because he was the best person for the job? Or maybe because he is a Trump loyalist with a list of “deep state” enemies who previously opposed President Trump. He was narrowly confirmed as the next FBI Director with a vote of 51–49 in the Senate, with only two Republicans joining all Democrats against him. Patel barely secured confirmation, highlighting the significant divisions surrounding his nomination — unlike the previous three FBI nominees, each confirmed with support from at least 90 senators.
But let’s keep going when looking at Trump’s cabinet. Tulsi Gabbard, who serves as the Director of National Intelligence, met with Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad in 2017; years of brutal civil war sparked by Assad’s regime had left hundreds of thousands dead and displaced millions from their homes. Gabbard declined to call Assad a war criminal even though the Assad regime bombed and gassed civilians. So, what you might be wondering what helped Tulsi Gabbard qualify for the role of our nation’s Director of National Intelligence. Well, you guessed it, similar to Kash Patel, Tulsi Gabbard has aligned herself with President Trump. She campaigned with Trump last fall and even helped Trump prepare for his presidential debate against former Vice President Kamala Harris last year. Gabbard was a former Democrat turned MAGA supporter who now is our nation’s spy chief. The U.S. Senate confirmed her with a party-line vote of 52–46.
And let’s wrap up with another former Democrat now turned MAGA star, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., serving as the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Most of us are likely familiar with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s belief that vaccines are linked to autism. Kenndey has accused the FDA of “aggressive suppression” of raw milk. While the FDA does not prohibit people from consuming raw milk, it warns that it may contain harmful bacteria. Kennedy is leading a campaign to remove fluoride from public drinking water in the United States. Kennedy was an open critic of restrictions to slow the spread of COVID-19 and said during a press event that “COVID-19 is targeted to attack Caucasians and Black people. The people who are most immune are Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese.” So, what qualifies Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services? Well, you guessed it again…Kennedy backed President Trump’s reelection bid after being shunned by the Democratic Party during the 2024 primary. Kennedy’s decision to embrace the MAGA movement has him overseeing vast swathes of the American food and healthcare industries. The U.S. Senate confirmed Kennedy on a mostly party-line vote of 52–48.
President Trump’s cabinet is filled with individuals who are not merit-based picks. Trump is appointing individuals that no one could reasonably believe would hold such high-level government positions, including some of the honorable mentions I laid out. I could not imagine the political fallout if President Biden’s cabinet members shared military attack plans in a Signal group chat.
Why it Matters
The attack on DEI was never about restoring fairness; it was about reinstating a system where power remains concentrated in the hands of a select few. What is currently happening at the federal level is setting a dangerous precedent — one that greenlights a new standard where political and personal ideology are valued above all else. However, when you look at President Trump’s cabinet, many of these individuals are not merit picks. Eliminating DEI created a new ‘good ole boy” system where leaders will simply pick people who support their views and beliefs, which means choosing one of their own.
Those who weaponized “meritocracy” against DEI have exposed their real goal: replacing diversity with ideological conformity. The result is a new “good ole boy” system, one that favors those who toe the political line over those who are actually qualified. And until we recognize this for what it is, the promise of true equity in hiring and leadership will remain under siege.
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Previously Published on Medium
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