What is DEI and why is Trump waging war against it?

When American voters headed to the ballot box in November, opinion polls suggested the cost of living, immigration and reproductive rights ranked among their biggest concerns.

- Ashifa Kassam

But tucked within last week's barrage of presidential executive orders was an attack on initiatives that had in recent years become increasingly weaponised: measures that sought to tackle discrimination.

Donald Trump signed two orders aimed at unwinding the federal government's decades-long push to ensure an inclusive workplace that reflects US society. The directives also instruct federal agencies to develop plans to deter diversity, equity and inclusion measures referred to as DEI - in the private sector, a move viewed by some as an attempt to ward off companies from addressing discrimination in their workplaces.

What is DEI?

Put simply, it is a generic label given to measures that aim to ensure people of all backgrounds -including from historically marginalised groups - can gain a foothold and thrive at organisations.

The roots of the term trace back to the US in the 1960s, with the label used to describe programmes that tackled discrimination based on gender, sexual orientation, religion and disability.