Amid Trump’s battle against DEI, nonprofits filling critical labor gaps are caught in the crossfire

By CLAIRE SAVAGE and ALEXANDRA OLSON CHICAGO AP Recruiting women into construction has for years been a painstaking but broadly popular effort with growing bipartisan and industry advocacy amid persistent labor shortages But President Donald Trump s aim to stamp out diversity and inclusion programs threaten to cripple community-based organizations that have been critical to that goal The Trump administration has moved swiftly to cut off federal funding to dozens of region groups that implement programs on the ground including apprenticeship readiness programs designed for women anti-harassment training and child care and transportation promotion for workers who need them The overhaul stems from a pair of anti-DEI executive orders which direct federal agencies to cancel all equity-related grants and require executive contractors and recipients of federal funds to certify under threat of crippling penalties that they do not operate any DEI programs that violate anti-discrimination laws The orders have set off a scramble among corporations universities law firms and major philanthropies to figure out how to adapt their DEI policies to avoid losing federal funding Specific have challenged the executive orders head on But for multiple nonprofits the orders pose an existential threat because their very mission involves providing services to historically marginalized communities Several nonprofits that provide housing physical condition and workforce progress services have teamed up with civil rights organizations to file lawsuits challenging the president s anti-DEI orders arguing they are so vague about what might constitute illegal DEI that compliance is impossible and violates free speech Chyanne Henderson practices putting together a window during an Ironworkers Local pre-apprenticeship class Wednesday March in Broadview Ill AP Photo Erin Hooley Alejandra Gonzalez practices virtual welding during an Ironworkers Local pre-apprenticeship class Wednesday March in Broadview Ill AP Photo Erin Hooley Instructor Kitty Thompson works with students during an Ironworkers Local pre-apprenticeship class Wednesday March in Broadview Ill AP Photo Erin Hooley Alejandra Gonzalez practices virtual welding during an Ironworkers Local pre-apprenticeship class Wednesday March in Broadview Ill AP Photo Erin Hooley Show Caption of Chyanne Henderson practices putting together a window during an Ironworkers Local pre-apprenticeship class Wednesday March in Broadview Ill AP Photo Erin Hooley Expand Stakeholders in the construction industry are closely following a lawsuit filed by Chicago Women in Trades an organization founded in to help women enter the skilled trades Other similar groups noted they were considering litigation after the Department of Labor yanked their grants last week saying in termination notices that their work promoting gender equity no longer aligns with administration priorities About of Chicago Women in Trades stems from federal funding according to court filings As the lawsuits play out Chicago Women in Trades Executive Director Jayne Vellinga revealed hiring and future services has stalled because the ultimate fate of the organization s funding is unclear Current programs are continuing under a cloud of uncertainty The sound of whirring drills filled the Ironworkers Local training center just outside Chicago during one exploratory training venture that is reliant on state and federal funds About two dozen women donned hard hats work gloves and safety glasses to practice assembling windows as an instructor looked on Two groups raced each other to see how fast they could perfect each assembly Another practices caulking nearby During the -week activity participants spend a week exploring different trades with experienced carpenters electricians and iron workers About of the participants successfully move on to apprenticeships Sam Barraza joined the campaign after struggling with an office job due to ADHD During a rotation with the Bricklayers Union Barazza was hired as an apprentice in tuck pointing a masonry repair process used to restore older buildings But Barrazza who is nonbinary reported they would never have discovered the business or understood how to get a foothold in the industry without a undertaking like Chicago Women in Trades There are so a large number of insider things that if your uncle was in the trades or your dad did it whatever you would know Barazza commented It s the first time I ve been excited for a career instead of like I just have to work to live Ruling body agencies construction companies and labor unions have invested billions of dollars to expand apprenticeships and other programs to draw younger generations into the skilled trades an effort that dates back decades but accelerated as the Biden administration ramped up resources in infrastructure and the semiconductor industry Key components include initiatives to make worksites more welcoming to women racial minorities and LGBTQ people who have long faced bias and harassment in an industry that is majority white and overwhelmingly male Related Articles Arizona Democratic Sen Gallego wades into immigration debate with new plan Trump visiting Gulf Arab states while crises flare in Gaza and Iran Deputy attorney general who defended Trump in hush money trial named acting librarian of Congress House Republicans unveil Medicaid cuts that Democrats warn will leave millions without care Trump s reshaping of higher tuition tests America s appeal for international students Progress has been slow but steady over the years Women for instance comprise only of skilled business workers but that s a nearly increase since and a record high according to U S labor statistics that have been celebrated by both women s advocacy groups and industry associations Advocates say recruiting more women and minority to well-paid skilled jobs helps alleviate 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 and under the Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations activity known as WANTO which dates back to a Congressional act signed by President George H W Bush The first Trump administration increased funding for the campaign and even invited Vellinga to a webinar to tout its accomplishments more than million in grants to group organizations that served more than women Funding for WANTO surged under the Biden administration which awarded nearly million in grants to more than organizations But the future of WANTO is in limbo Last week the Labor Department sent termination notices to multiple of the current grants recipients saying their work no longer aligns with the administration s priorities because of their focus on gender equity and diversity several of the organizations reported The Associated Press Chicago Women in Trades WANTO grant is protected for now under a preliminary injunction issued last month by Judge Matthew Kennelly of the U S District Court Northern District of Illinois Kennelly ruled that canceling the grant would likely violate the Constitution s separation of power provisions because the funds are congressionally appropriated He declined to protect Chicago Women in Trades four other federal grants The Labor Department did not reply to multiple emails seeking clarity about its intentions for WANTO and other similar federal initiatives to expand recruitment in manufacturing and construction In his fiscal year budget request Trump pledged to keep investing in the expansion of apprenticeship opportunities But in grant-consolidation proposal dubbed Make America Skilled Again Trump reported the Labor Department would eliminate grants to progressive non-profits that focus on DEI and instead direct funding to states and localities that will have the flexibility to decide how to spend them The Trump administration argues that a multitude of DEI policies pressure employers to hire based on race or gender or unfairly shut out a few workers from training and funding opportunities But construction firms have supported outreach programs to women out of sheer need The industry is seeking more than new workers this year to meet anticipated demand according to commerce group Associated Builders and Contractors We need all of the talent and materials that we can get stated Vanessa Jester neighborhood and citizenship director for Turner Construction in Columbus Ohio where construction worker shortages are especially acute The company has partnered Chicago Women in Trades and other public groups to expose women and girls to the construction industry If these young girls can t see it feel it touch it and see that there s an opportunity we re not going to be able to grow Jester added Turner Construction is one of firms that have joined the Way of life of CARE scheme launched in by the Associated General Contractors of America to address harassment hazing and bullying that has long plagued in the industry The association which has member firms says on its website that Trump s executive orders on DEI have prompted a review of its initiative and tools to ensure continued compliance with the law Brian Turmail the association s vice president of Inhabitants Affairs Workforce announced that while the language of several guidance might be changed the organization plans to double down on Heritage of Care saying it s about preventing discrimination that drives away multiple women and racial minorities from the field There isn t any other way for the industry to be viable he disclosed The Associated Press women in the workforce and state governing body coverage receives financial backing from Pivotal Ventures AP is solely responsible for all content Find AP s standards for working with philanthropies a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP org