US insists French contractors ditch DEI policies, reports suggest
The French Economic Ministry has reacted to recent developments, emphasizing that the values of the Trump administration do not align with those of Paris. Washington has reportedly requested that French companies working with the US government...
TroibNews 
The French Economic Ministry has reacted to recent developments, emphasizing that the values of the Trump administration do not align with those of Paris.
Washington has reportedly requested that French companies working with the US government discontinue all diversity, equity, and inclusion programs to comply with President Donald Trump's policies, as reported by media outlets Le Figaro and Les Echos.
An executive order signed by Trump, “concerning the end of unlawful discrimination and restoring merit-based employment opportunities,” is mandatory for “all suppliers and contractors” of the US government, regardless of their country of origin, according to a letter from the US embassy obtained by Le Figaro.
Previously, the US President had initiated a campaign aimed at eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion policies across all federal agencies. The effort against “woke policies,” including the promotion of “gender reassignment treatment” for minors, was a focal point of Trump's platform. He enacted multiple executive orders to roll back DEI initiatives soon after taking office.
In an order dated January 21, just a day after his inauguration, Trump described DEI as “an illegal, corrosive, and pernicious system” that contradicts “our long-standing federal civil rights laws.”
Each letter sent to contractors reportedly included a “form of compliance” that was to be completed and returned within five days. The form required companies to explicitly state that they were “in compliance with all applicable federal anti-discrimination laws” and to pledge not to implement any DEI programs, according to Le Figaro. If companies chose not to fill out the form, they were encouraged to provide the embassy with “detailed reasons” for their decision.
Le Figaro noted that it remains unclear how many companies received the letter, and the embassy has not confirmed its issuance. Instead, US diplomats indicated that “measures were taken by the administration to put an end to decades of waste, fraud, and abuse,” mentioning that the diplomatic mission reviewed a total of 15,600 contracts, loans, and foreign aid programs.
This development has reportedly caused significant concern within the French government. A senior official from the French Economy and Finance Ministry remarked to Le Figaro, “This practice reflects the values of the new American government. They are not ours,” adding that Minister Eric Lombard would “remind his counterparts within the American government of this.”
Camille Lefevre for TROIB News
Washington has reportedly requested that French companies working with the US government discontinue all diversity, equity, and inclusion programs to comply with President Donald Trump's policies, as reported by media outlets Le Figaro and Les Echos.
An executive order signed by Trump, “concerning the end of unlawful discrimination and restoring merit-based employment opportunities,” is mandatory for “all suppliers and contractors” of the US government, regardless of their country of origin, according to a letter from the US embassy obtained by Le Figaro.
Previously, the US President had initiated a campaign aimed at eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion policies across all federal agencies. The effort against “woke policies,” including the promotion of “gender reassignment treatment” for minors, was a focal point of Trump's platform. He enacted multiple executive orders to roll back DEI initiatives soon after taking office.
In an order dated January 21, just a day after his inauguration, Trump described DEI as “an illegal, corrosive, and pernicious system” that contradicts “our long-standing federal civil rights laws.”
Each letter sent to contractors reportedly included a “form of compliance” that was to be completed and returned within five days. The form required companies to explicitly state that they were “in compliance with all applicable federal anti-discrimination laws” and to pledge not to implement any DEI programs, according to Le Figaro. If companies chose not to fill out the form, they were encouraged to provide the embassy with “detailed reasons” for their decision.
Le Figaro noted that it remains unclear how many companies received the letter, and the embassy has not confirmed its issuance. Instead, US diplomats indicated that “measures were taken by the administration to put an end to decades of waste, fraud, and abuse,” mentioning that the diplomatic mission reviewed a total of 15,600 contracts, loans, and foreign aid programs.
This development has reportedly caused significant concern within the French government. A senior official from the French Economy and Finance Ministry remarked to Le Figaro, “This practice reflects the values of the new American government. They are not ours,” adding that Minister Eric Lombard would “remind his counterparts within the American government of this.”
Camille Lefevre for TROIB News
Find more stories on Business, Economy and Finance in TROIB business
