The administration called a halt to racial sensitivity training in federal agencies.

White House issues order, rips tenets of critical race theory

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has instructed federal government agencies to halt racial sensitivity training, issuing a White House memo that condemns such initiatives as contrary to the nation’s “fundamental beliefs.”

The memo was released late Friday by Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought, who said Trump had directed him “to ensure that federal agencies cease and desist from using taxpayer dollars to fund these divisive, un-American propaganda sessions.”

“The divisive, false, and demeaning propaganda of the critical race theory movement is contrary to all we stand for as Americans and should have no place in the Federal government,” Vought added.

The memo was released as issues of racial injustice and police brutality have taken center stage in the national political debate two months before the U.S. election. Widespread demonstrations over the past few months have forced a painful reflection on the treatment of Black people throughout American history.

Trump sent over 20 retweets Saturday morning from conservative media outlets and others applauding the move. In response to a post calling critical race theory “the greatest threat to western civilizations,” Trump tweeted “Not any more!”

Critical race theory is defined as the view that the law and legal institutions are inherently racist.

Vought’s two-page document didn’t name the training programs that prompted the move, referring only to unspecified media reports. According to his memo, the reports describe employees being required “to attend trainings where they are told that ‘virtually all white people contribute to racism’ or where they are required to say that they ‘benefit from racism.’”

The memo directs agencies to identify contracts and spending related to what it calls any “training or propaganda effort that teaches or suggests either (1) that the United States is an inherently racist or evil country or (2) that any race or ethnicity is inherently racist or evil.”

The White House didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment late Friday night.