Attorney General Bondi made the administration’s stance clear: “Firefighters and police officers should be selected for their expertise and commitment to public safety, not to fulfill DEI quotas. American communities deserve that.”
The previous administration had sought to advance a DEI agenda that prioritized diversity benchmarks over merit, forcing cities to adopt hiring practices that strayed from essential qualifications. This approach not only undermined the integrity of police and fire departments but also funneled millions of taxpayer dollars into compensating lower-scoring applicants, regardless of their ability to meet the demands of the job.
Bondi, alongside President Trump, is working to restore fairness and merit-based hiring practices across all industries—especially in critical fields like public safety. The selection of police officers and firefighters should never be about meeting quotas; it should be about ensuring the most qualified individuals are on the front lines, protecting lives. When hiring decisions prioritize diversity criteria over proven skill, the consequences can be life-threatening.
Today’s dismissal marks a pivotal step in eliminating unlawful DEI mandates in both the public and private sectors. It is a reaffirmation of the fundamental principle that skill, dedication, and expertise—not political agendas—should determine who serves and protects our communities.