Inclusion should be central for chemistry

The new Trump administration in the US has issued an executive order to end federal programmes on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), and an executive action to repeal equity policies dating back to the time of the civil rights movement of the 1960s.

Orders of this type had been anticipated, though perhaps not the pace of change. Issued on 20 January – inauguration day – the executive order will dismantle all federal government DEI positions, plans, actions, initiatives, programmes, grants and contracts within 60 days, with all DEI staff placed on immediate paid administrative leave.