Trump orders agencies to identify critical race theory trainings

Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought sends a memorandum on September 2, 2020, directing federal agencies to identify contracts or trainings involving critical race theory, white privilege, or related concepts. The memo follows President Donald Trump's instruction to end what the administration calls divisive anti-American propaganda. The directive precedes Executive Order 13950 and targets federal spending on racial-equity and anti-bias trainings. Civil rights advocates argue the move chills discussion of systemic racism inside government and federally connected workplaces. The memo marks an early federal escalation in the anti-critical-race-theory and anti-DEI campaign.