Following President Trump’s executive order terminating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives in the federal workforce, North Carolina State Auditor Dave Boliek and Labor Commissioner Luke Farley both announced on Thursday they will prohibit DEI from being used as a factor in their respective state agencies’ hiring practices.

Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday that terminates “radical DEI preferencing in federal contracting and directing federal agencies to relentlessly combat private sector discrimination” while encouraging merit-based opportunities instead.

On Thursday, Labor Commissioner Luke Farley said the NC Department of Labor would immediately end DEI metrics in evaluating employee performance and in the hiring process. Farley said he would also add a performance measure related to safety and health to ensure DOL employees are held to the same standards required of North Carolina employers.

“From this point forward, we will hire and evaluate employees based on merit and on their ability to fulfill our mission to protect the health, safety and well-being of North Carolinians,” Farley said in a press release. “Ultimately, my goal is to hire and retain qualified, professional individuals who will provide excellent service to our state.”

Just hours later, State Auditor Dave Boliek announced that his agency would also eliminate DEI from its internal policies, including any training, performance requirements, preferencing, and directives.

“DEI is divisive and brings little-to-no return on investment of time and resources,” said State Auditor Boliek. “My goal in the Auditor’s Office is to establish a professional workplace where individuals are valued and measured based on merit. Corporations across the country are abandoning DEI, as are colleges and universities, and it’s time for the government to do the same.”

Boliek cited research showing the negative effects of DEI, including research that shows DEI can heighten racial suspicion, prejudicial attitudes, and authoritarian policing.

Back in the spring of 2024, Boliek was part of the UNC Board of Governors’ pivot away from DEI, as reported by Carolina Journal.

“I think it’s instructive that the Board of Governors committee unanimously approved changing the strategic direction of DEI and replacing DEI initiatives with an overall policy that looks toward equality and a meritocracy,” said Boliek, then seeing as budget and finance committee chairman, during a special meeting last May. “I have stated before and I’ll state again, I think that DEI is divisive, I don’t think that it’s productive, I don’t think it gives a return on investment to taxpayers and to the institution itself.”