Multiple associations took issue with an executive order issued by President Donald Trump banning certain types of diversity training, including at private companies doing business with the federal government. The Sept. 22 order expands Trump's earlier directive to end such training at federal agencies.

The American Association of Advertising Agencies, known as the 4A's, criticized the decision to bar federal contractors from teaching staff about systemic racism in the United States.

"As this executive order prohibits employee training on topics such as ‘stereotyping' and ‘scapegoating' based on race or sex—ambiguous terms that even courts of law have trouble parsing and applying—it complicates how agencies can evaluate their employee training programs for compliance," 4A's CEO Marla Kaplowitz told industry publication AdAge.

Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) CEO Stephen Ubl said in an Oct. 1 statement that health inequities are "a longstanding symptom of the systemic racism experienced by Black and Brown Americans throughout history."

"It is why we must speak out against the president's executive order restricting workplace diversity training programs and free speech within private companies that have contractual partnerships with or grants from the federal government," Ubl said in the statement.

Jason Oxman, CEO of Information Technology Industry Council, said in a Sept. 24 statement that the technology industry is "deeply concerned" about the order. The group counts internet giants such as Amazon, Apple and Google among its members.

"At a time when Americans are seeking racial justice more than ever, this EO instead attacks our broadly shared values and risks undoing real progress toward building racial equity in the tech industry and America writ large," Oxman said.

Trump's Sept. 22 "Executive Order on Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping" declares that federal agencies, the military and federal contractors are prohibited from teaching "divisive concepts," including that one race or sex is inherently superior to another race or sex; that the United States is fundamentally racist or sexist; and that an individual, by virtue of his or her race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist or oppressive. The order would take effect Nov. 21.

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