# 2025-02097: Merit Over Mandates: Banning Race and Sex Hiring Preferences

2025-02097, Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity, is a Federal Register presidential document from Executive Office of the President published 2025-01-31, effective 2025-01-21 (as of 2026-11-04).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-02097
- As of: 2026-11-04
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2025-02097
- Title: Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity
- Type: Presidential Document
- Agencies: Executive Office of the President
- Citation: 90 FR 8633
- Published: 2025-01-31
- Effective: 2025-01-21
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: no
- Regulation identifier numbers: none
- Last updated: 2026-11-04

## In one line

Merit Over Mandates: Banning Race and Sex Hiring Preferences

## Summary

This order stops illegal race- and sex-based preferences in government and big industries, making sure everyone gets a fair chance based on hard work and talent. It affects federal agencies, companies, schools, and more, aiming to restore true merit-based opportunities starting now. The government will enforce civil-rights laws strictly, protecting hardworking Americans and promoting unity without costly new programs.

## Effects PRIA read

- Federal Contractors: Affirmative Action Revoked: benefit, medium. The order revokes Executive Order 11246 and directs the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs to stop promoting diversity and holding Federal contractors responsible for affirmative action. Federal contractors may continue complying with the regulatory scheme in effect on January 20, 2025…
- Contracts Must Include DEI Certification Term: cost, medium. Every Federal contract and grant award must include a term making compliance with Federal anti-discrimination laws material to payment decisions under 31 U.S.C. 3729(b)(4) and requiring the contractor or recipient to certify it does not operate DEI programs that violate Federal anti-discrimination…
- Attorney General to Target Private-Sector DEI: cost, medium. Within 120 days the Attorney General must submit a report with recommendations and a strategic enforcement plan to encourage the private sector to end illegal DEI discrimination. The plan must identify up to nine potential civil compliance investigations of publicly traded corporations, large non‑p…
- Higher Education Guidance After SFFA Decision: mixed, medium. Within 120 days the Attorney General and Secretary of Education must jointly issue guidance to State and local educational agencies that receive Federal funds and to institutions of higher education that receive Federal grants or participate in the Federal student loan program under Title IV about…
- Veterans and Randolph‑Sheppard Preferences Preserved: benefit, low. The order states it does not apply to lawful Federal or private-sector employment and contracting preferences for veterans or persons protected by the Randolph‑Sheppard Act (20 U.S.C. 107 et seq.).

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## Sources
- [2025-02097 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/01/31/2025-02097/ending-illegal-discrimination-and-restoring-merit-based-opportunity)
- [2025-02097 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2025-01-31/pdf/2025-02097.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2025-02096, Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-02096)
- [Next: 2025-02098, Revocation of Certain Executive Orders](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-02098)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-02097 (as of 2026-11-04).