Mar. 15, 2026 at 9:08pm

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Since taking office, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has made anti-Blackness a central pillar of his administration, using race-tinged rhetoric, policies, and legislation to target diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts in the state. In partnership with the state’s attorney general, DeSantis has moved to prohibit the use of state and federal funds for DEI programs in Florida’s public universities and has issued a legal opinion declaring many existing DEI and affirmative action measures as unlawful discrimination. This campaign has deepened racial divisions in the state and threatens to further marginalize Black Floridians, who already lag behind their white counterparts in areas like wealth, health, and education.

Why it matters

The DeSantis administration’s crusade against DEI programs is part of a broader effort by Republicans to roll back progress on racial equity, under the guise of opposing “reverse discrimination” against white Americans. This narrative, which is not supported by data, ignores the persistent and systemic barriers that have prevented Black Americans from achieving true equality since the end of slavery. The dismantling of affirmative action and DEI initiatives in Florida will have far-reaching consequences, further entrenching racial disparities in the state.

The details

The DeSantis administration has targeted Florida’s public schools, universities, and businesses, prohibiting the use of state or federal funds for DEI programs. Recently, the state’s attorney general, James Uthmeier, issued a legal opinion declaring that many established DEI and affirmative action measures in Florida’s public and private sectors constitute unlawful race-based discrimination. This opinion, which relies heavily on the Supreme Court’s ruling in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, reflects an increasingly aggressive enforcement posture by state officials and adds to the legal and political uncertainty for employers operating in Florida.

In 2023, Florida’s 12 public universities were prohibited from using state or federal funds for DEI programs, following legislation signed by Governor DeSantis.In March 2026, Florida’s Attorney General James Uthmeier released a legal opinion declaring that many existing DEI and affirmative action measures in the state violate federal and state law.
The players

Ron DeSantis

The Republican governor of Florida, who has made anti-Blackness a central pillar of his administration through race-tinged rhetoric, policies, and legislation.

James Uthmeier

The attorney general of Florida, who has launched a legal offensive against DEI and affirmative action programs in the state.

Bobby Powell

A former Democratic state senator and former chair of the Florida Black Legislative Caucus, who has criticized the DeSantis administration’s attacks on diversity and inclusion efforts.

Wayne Washington

A reporter for the Palm Beach Post who has written about the effects of racism, discrimination, and segregation on Black Floridians under the DeSantis administration.

United Way

Researchers from the United Way organization who have argued that the institutionalized racism in Florida will not solve itself, with Black Floridians facing disparities in areas like health, wealth, and education.

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What they’re saying

“The administration of Gov. DeSantis has demonstrated a disdain for Black people and their lives in Florida. His actions as governor demonstrate that under his governance, the lives of Black people are expendable.”

— Florida American Civil Liberties Union (rawstory.com)

“Right now, we’re under a regime that works to attack the idea of diversity and inclusion. People are jumping on that bandwagon. We’ve got gaps now that I think will grow even larger.”

— Bobby Powell, Former state senator and former chair of the Florida Black Legislative Caucus (rawstory.com)

“Such institutionalized racism will not solve itself. Black babies in Florida are half as likely to see their first birthday. Black men have the shortest life expectancy of any group in the United States.”

— United Way researchers (rawstory.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow the state’s legal opinion to take effect, which could further dismantle DEI and affirmative action programs across Florida.

The takeaway

The DeSantis administration’s crusade against diversity and inclusion efforts in Florida is part of a broader Republican strategy to roll back progress on racial equity, ignoring the persistent and systemic barriers that have prevented true equality for Black Americans. This campaign threatens to deepen racial divisions and further marginalize already disadvantaged communities in the state.