As a veteran, I have always believed that our country has a sacred duty to support those who have served it. However, recent federal and state actions threaten to undermine this commitment, especially for veterans who rely on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs to access opportunities and overcome systemic barriers.
The Trump administration’s elimination of federal diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, combined with Ohio Senate Bill 1 — a Republican effort to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in our state’s colleges and universities — has already harmed and threatened veterans’ well-being and advancement.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion programs are about more than just race or gender; they are about providing opportunities for historically marginalized or disadvantaged people.
Many veterans come from low-income families, struggle to reintegrate into civilian life, or suffer from invisible wounds such as PTSD.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives offer vital support systems, job opportunities, and resources to help veterans succeed in higher education and the workforce.
Eliminating these programs is not only shortsighted; it is an insult to the sacrifices veterans have made for our country.
JD Vance should be poster boy for DEI
Consider the story of Vice President JD Vance, a low-income veteran who attended Ohio State University and Yale Law School.
Vance most likely benefited from diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives during his time there, as these programs aim to level the playing field for people like him, giving veterans and first-generation students a fair chance at success.
Vance now supports policies that deny others the same opportunities. His hypocrisy disappoints and harms the working-class communities he claims to represent.
Since the Trump administration took office, they have terminated diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and fired a large number of federal employees, leaving many former service members unemployed or without job opportunities.
Earlier this month, at a town hall hosted by Republican Sen. Roger Marshall in Kansas, constituents expressed their dissatisfaction with the job cuts affecting veterans.
Marshall responded by abruptly ending the meeting, citing his busy schedule and not addressing any of the crowd’s concerns.
This complete inability to defend his party’s actions and fight for his constituents is disgraceful, but not surprising. After all, the GOP has been completely captured by the interests of the ultra-wealthy, who want nothing more than to destroy our administrative and regulatory systems at the expense of ordinary Americans.
In Ohio, Republican-backed Senate Bill 1 aims to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion programs at public colleges and universities.
This legislation ignores the fact that many veterans rely on these programs to get an education, build networks, and transition into meaningful jobs.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives are frequently the difference between thriving and simply surviving after they are discharged. By dismantling these efforts, we are telling veterans that their service and sacrifices were insufficient to earn our support.
To my fellow veterans and all Ohioans who believe in justice and equity, I encourage you to join me in opposing these efforts and fighting to preserve diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.
Our veterans deserve nothing less than our unwavering support, both inside and outside of the military. We must honor their service by giving them every chance to succeed in the land they promised to defend.
