Workplace Compliance Under the New Administration
As the new administration continues to shape its policy priorities, employers must stay ahead of evolving regulations, executive orders and compliance expectations. From DEI initiatives to workplace policies, each shift in federal guidance can have a significant impact on businesses of all sizes.
Traliant’s Compliance Team, comprised of in-house legal experts, is closely monitoring these developments to help you navigate regulatory changes with confidence.
At Traliant, we are committed to helping you stay informed, remain compliant and prepare for what’s next.
Key executive orders and other developments
The President has issued an unprecedented number of executive orders relating to everything from foreign policy to the use of paper straws. The key orders and other related news and developments that impact workplace compliance are detailed in this section.
Executive orders
Executive Order 14173 targets DEI programs or activities that reflect unlawful discriminatory preferences favoring employees based on race, sex, or other protected characteristics. It does not ban DEI programs or training, make it illegal or change existing anti-discrimination law. It does however end the requirement for federal contractors to maintain affirmative action programs and requires them to certify they don’t have discriminatory DEI programs.
More information: What Trump’s executive orders on DEI, sex and gender mean for HR and private sector employers | Traliant
The Gender Identity order defines the term “sex” for purposes of Executive Branch interpretation and application of federal law and policy. Under the order, the term sex refers to “an individual’s immutable biological classification as either male or female” and “does not include the concept of ‘gender identity’”. The order appears to conflict with existing federal law. In a 2020 decision, the Supreme Court held that workplace discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation is discrimination on the basis of sex and thus violates Title VII.
More information: What Trump’s executive orders on DEI, sex and gender mean for HR and private sector employers | Traliant
The President issued an executive order on February 10, 2025, temporarily pausing enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). The order directs the Attorney General to halt new FCPA investigations and enforcement actions within 180 days, review ongoing investigations to determine if they should continue and issue updated FCPA guidelines and policies based on the review.
More information: Why anti-bribery anti-corruption training matters | Traliant
News and other developments
On January 31, 2025, the Department of Education (DOE) announced that the DOE Office of Civil Rights (OCR) will enforce the Trump Administration’s 2020 Title IX Rule on sex discrimination in education programs receiving federal funding (the 2020 Rule). The announcement follows a January decision by a federal court in Kentucky vacating the Title IX rule issued in April 2024 (the 2024 Rule).
More information: Reinstating the 2020 Title IX Rule Amid Legal Shifts | Traliant
Frequently Asked Questions
Organizations should review their programs to ensure they align with federal compliance standards and focus on legally sound practices that promote workplace equality without violating anti-discrimination laws.
Organizations should review their DEI policies and anti-harassment programs to ensure they comply with both federal and state laws and continue to provide training that includes gender identity topics.
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