1. United States
2. Mass.
3. Letter

The recent Executive Order from President Trump aimed at "Restoring Equality of Opportunity and Meritocracy" is deeply concerning for the protection of women's financial independence and civil rights. While the stated intent is to promote colorblindness and meritocracy, the reality is that this order threatens to undermine key legal safeguards against discrimination. A core target of the order is the principle of disparate-impact liability, which recognizes that policies and practices, even without explicit discriminatory intent, can still have a disproportionately harmful effect on protected groups like women and racial minorities. By seeking to weaken this crucial legal doctrine, the order jeopardizes vital civil rights protections. Of particular alarm is the mandate to reevaluate ongoing enforcement actions under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA). The ECOA has long prohibited lenders from discriminating against women based on marital status or other factors unrelated to creditworthiness. Rolling back enforcement of the ECOA risks returning us to an era where women faced systemic barriers in accessing credit and financial independence. Furthermore, the order calls for a reexamination of regulations implementing key sections of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 related to employment, housing, and federal funding - raising fears of backsliding on hard-won civil rights gains across multiple fronts. We urge reconsideration of this Executive Order to preserve the fundamental promise of equal opportunity and non-discrimination enshrined in our laws. Comprehensive civil rights protections are essential not just for women and minorities, but for upholding core American ideals of fairness and justice for all.