Section 1 establishes the purpose of the order, which is to eliminate race-based and sex-based discrimination within the Armed Forces of the United States. The president emphasizes the importance of meritocracy and asserts that individuals should not be preferred or disadvantaged on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, color, or creed.
The order also defines several terms, including “DEI office,” “gender ideology,” and “divisive concepts.” It prohibits the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security from promoting certain un-American and divisive theories, such as that America’s founding documents are racist or sexist. The order directs the Secretary of Defense to conduct an internal review of DEI initiatives and to submit a report on progress within 90 days.