Rewritten Article
Women in Construction at Risk: Construction nonprofits face challenges as federal funding is slashed for diversity programs
In the middle of Trump's crusade against Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), essential labor voids are unwittingly affected, as nonprofit organizations find themselves in the line of fire.
CHICAGO (AP) - Efforts to bring more women into the construction industry have gained momentum over the years, with growing bipartisan support and industry backing amid ongoing labor shortages. But President Donald Trump's push to dismantle diversity and inclusion programs could halt the progress by targeting community-based organizations that have played a crucial role in promoting gender equity.
The Trump administration has been swift in cutting off federal funding for dozens of community groups, including those that provide apprenticeship readiness programs for women, anti-harassment training, and child care and transportation support for workers.
This move stems from a pair of anti-DEI executive orders, which instruct federal agencies to cancel "equity-related" grants and require government contractors and recipients of federal funds to certify, under threat of severe penalties, that they do not operate any DEI programs that violate anti-discrimination laws.
These orders have left corporations, universities, law firms, and major philanthropies struggling to understand and adapt their DEI policies to avoid losing government funding. Some have voiced their opposition to the executive orders.
However, for many nonprofits, the orders pose an existential threat, as their mission revolves around providing services to historically marginalized communities. Several nonprofits that offer housing, health, and workforce development services have teamed up with civil rights organizations to challenge the president's anti-DEI orders in court, arguing that they are overly vague and could lead to the violation of free speech.
Organizations within the construction industry are closely monitoring a lawsuit filed by Chicago Women in Trades, an organization founded in 1981 to help women enter the skilled trades. Other similar groups have expressed interest in legal action following the Department of Labor's decision to withdraw their grants last week, claiming that their work promoting gender equity no longer aligns with government priorities.
Chicago Women in Trades depends on federal funding for about 40% of its operations. As the lawsuits unfold, the organization's Executive Director, Jayne Vellinga, stated that hiring and future programming have been put on hold due to the uncertainty surrounding their funding. Current programs are continuing, but under a cloud of doubt.
During a recent exploratory training program at Ironworkers Local 63, about two dozen women practiced assembling windows under the watchful eye of an instructor. The program combines state and federal funding and aims to introduce women to different trades before placing them in apprenticeships. Over 70% of participants successfully move on to apprenticeships.
Sam Barraza, a 24-year-old participant, joined the program after struggling with an office job due to ADHD. Barraza, who is nonbinary, credits a program like Chicago Women in Trades for introducing them to the trade and providing a pathway into the industry.
Government agencies, construction companies, and labor unions have invested billions of dollars in expanding apprenticeships and other programs to draw more young people into the trades. Efforts to create a more welcoming environment for women, racial minorities, and LGBTQ individuals in the industry, which is largely composed of white men, have been central to these initiatives.
Although the progress has been slow, statistics indicate a growing trend. For instance, while women account for only 4% of skilled trade workers, the number represents a 30% increase since 2018, according to U.S. labor statistics[1]. Advocates argue that recruiting more women and minorities to well-paid skilled jobs helps bridge gender and racial pay gaps while addressing labor shortages.
Far from being a target during the first Trump administration, Chicago Women in Trades received two grants in 2019 and 2020 under the Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations program (WANTO), which dates back to a 1992 Congressional act signed by President George H.W. Bush. The program received increased funding during the first Trump administration, and the Biden administration further boosted investment upon taking office.
However, the future of WANTO remains uncertain. Last week, the Labor Department sent termination notices to many current grant recipients, citing a focus on gender equity and diversity as the reason for revoking their grants[3].
A preliminary injunction issued by Judge Matthew Kennelly, of the U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois, temporarily protects Chicago Women in Trades' WANTO grant, deeming its cancellation likely to violate the Constitution's separation of power provisions as the funds are congressionally appropriated. Judge Kennelly declined to protect the organization's four other federal grants.
The Labor Department has not responded to multiple inquiries regarding its intentions for WANTO and other similar federal initiatives aimed at expanding recruitment in manufacturing and construction.
- US Labor Department Statistics
- Inside Higher Ed - Why Trump’s Executive Orders So Alarm Colleges
- Construction Dive - Trump's anti-DEI executive order threatens women's construction nonprofits
- The Trump administration's moves to disband diversity and inclusion programs could halt the progress of efforts to bring more women into the construction industry.
- Several nonprofit organizations providing services to historically marginalized communities, including those supporting women in construction, have teamed up with civil rights organizations to challenge the president's anti-DEI orders in court.
- The construction industry, in parallel with other corporations and universities, is struggling to adapt their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies to avoid losing government funding.
- The future of funding for programs promoting gender equity, such as the Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations (WANTO) program, remains uncertain due to the Trump administration's decision to withdraw grants.
- Housing, transportation, education, and self-development services are among those that could be adversely affected by the cancellation of federal funding for diversity programs.
- General news outlets report on the ongoing legal battles involving government policy and legislation, with a focus on the effects on organizations promoting diversity and inclusion in various industries, including construction.
- As disagreements over diversity and inclusion policies continue in politics, personal growth and the pursuit of a career in construction for marginalized individuals may be affected by the outcome of these legal disputes.
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