Executive Order 14281: Restoring Equality of Opportunity and Meritocracy

This executive order seeks to eliminate the use of disparate-impact liability in federal enforcement, regulation, and civil rights law interpretation. It asserts that disparate-impact frameworks—where unequal outcomes may be viewed as discriminatory regardless of intent—violate the Constitution and undermine principles of individual merit and equal opportunity. The order directs agencies to rescind or revise rules and guidance that impose such liability, deprioritize related enforcement, and reassess pending cases and existing regulations. It aims to reinforce a colorblind legal standard rooted in individual evaluation rather than group-based outcomes.