Trump & Elon Watch: Race-Baiting & Rollbacks Threaten Black America – Black Information Network

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This is Trump & Elon Watch: Black America’s Weekly Need-to-Know.
Each week, BIN will break down the latest actions of President Donald Trump and Elon Musk; whether it’s political maneuvering, economic policies, social media shake-ups, or attacks on democracy. We’ll examine what’s happening, why it matters, and most importantly how Black America is impacted. No fluff. No fear-mongering. Just facts. Every breakdown is designed to be a resource—a guide to help Black America navigate these uncertain times. Because if history has taught us anything, knowledge is power.
This week, Trump is escalating his assault on civil rights and race-baiting his way through policy. He signed an executive order to dismantle the Department of Education, stripped protections against segregated facilities, and erased key pages documenting Black military history. He’s also calling for the impeachment of judges who rule against him. Meanwhile, Musk’s DOGE is playing clean-up with Social Security records, but at the expense of real people’s benefits and peace of mind.
Let’s break down what’s happening, how it affects us, and what we can do about it.
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What’s Happening?
President Donald Trump’s executive order aimed at dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives has effectively eliminated a clause that explicitly prohibited racially segregated facilities.
Last month, the General Services Administration (GSA) issued a public memo stating it was “making changes prompted by President Trump’s executive order on diversity, equity, and inclusion, which repealed an executive order signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965 regarding federal contractors and nondiscrimination.”
One of those changes includes eliminating Clause 52.222-21 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), which barred contractors from operating segregated restaurants, waiting rooms, drinking fountains, and other facilities. The FAR is used by federal agencies to draft contracts for vendors providing goods or services to the government.
“The Contractor agrees that it does not and will not maintain or provide for its employees any segregated facilities at any of its establishments and that it does not and will not permit its employees to perform their services at any location under its control where segregated facilities are maintained,” the clause, titled Prohibition of Segregated Facilities, reads.
How Are We Impacted?
Now that the clause has been removed due to Trump’s executive order, facilities such as workspaces, dining areas, restrooms, transportation, housing, and more are no longer explicitly protected from segregation under federal contracting rules based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.
Although federal and state anti-discrimination laws still prohibit segregation, legal experts warn that eliminating this clause is both symbolic and significant.
“It’s symbolic, but it’s incredibly meaningful in its symbolism,” said Melissa Murray, a constitutional law professor at NYU. “These provisions that required federal contractors to adhere to and comply with federal civil rights laws and to maintain integrated rather than segregated workplaces were all part of the federal government’s efforts to facilitate the settlement that led to integration in the 1950s and 1960s.”
She added, “The fact that they are now excluding those provisions from the requirements for federal contractors, I think, speaks volumes."
What Can Be Done?
The removal of this clause is a rollback, but it’s not the end of the fight. Civil rights advocates, lawmakers, and everyday citizens can take action by:
Symbolic or not, this rollback matters—and we can’t afford to ignore it.
Photo: Getty Images
What’s Happening
The Department of Defense (DOD) is removing content that highlights the contributions of Black people, women, and other marginalized groups from its official webpages. The purge follows President Trump’s executive order to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives across the federal government.
How Are We Impacted
Earlier this week, the Pentagon removed its webpage on baseball legend and civil rights icon Jackie Robinson. The page, which documented his military service during World War II and experiences with segregation, was restored only after widespread backlash.
The National Guard also deleted pages about the 369th Infantry Regiment—one of the most decorated Black military units in U.S. history. Known as the Harlem Hellfighters, the regiment’s triumphs in World War I and their 1919 victory parade were historic moments of Black pride and progress.
In another case, a webpage honoring Charles Calvin Rogers, a Black Army officer and Medal of Honor recipient, was temporarily taken down. Notably, the updated URL of the page included the letters “DEI,” raising questions about the motives behind the removal. Like the Robinson page, it was later reinstated following public outcry.
These deletions are part of a broader erasure of Black military contributions, aimed at reshaping how history is remembered—and who gets remembered.
What Can Be Done
As Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declares “DEI is dead,” we must stay vigilant.
Photo: Getty Images
What’s Happening
Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) announced on Monday (March 17) that it has begun a “major cleanup” of records in the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) database, targeting entries for individuals listed as over 120 years old.
“For the past two weeks, @SocialSecurity has begun a major cleanup of their records,” DOGE wrote on social media. “Approximately 3.2 million numberholders, all listed age 120+, have now been marked as deceased. More work still to be done.”
DOGE claims the SSA’s database contains more than 12.3 million numberholders recorded as being 120 years old or older. The effort comes amid Musk’s broader campaign to cut government spending. Last month, he stated there were a “whole bunch of Social Security payments where there’s no identifying information.”
However, SSA officials say that not all, and possibly none, of these numberholders are actually receiving benefits. The existence of outdated records doesn’t necessarily mean fraud or waste.
How Are We Impacted
Already, at least one living person has reported being erroneously marked as deceased by the agency, causing a delay in their Social Security payments and triggering a lengthy appeals process to restore them.
For Black Americans who rely on Social Security benefits at higher rates due to historical economic inequality, this type of mass purge raises serious concerns. If records are flagged incorrectly or without adequate safeguards, vulnerable communities could lose access to critical income, healthcare, or survivor benefits.
What Can Be Done
Black Americans should keep a watchful eye on their Social Security benefits amid the “cleanup.”
"If a person suspects that they have been incorrectly listed as deceased on their Social Security record, they should contact their local Social Security office as soon as possible," SSA said in a statement. "They should be prepared to bring at least one piece of current (not expired) original form of identification."
"Social Security takes immediate action to correct its records and the agency can provide a letter that the error has been corrected that can be shared with other organizations, agencies, and employers," the agency added.
In the meantime:
Photo: Getty Images
What’s Happening?
On Thursday (March 20), Trump signed an executive order directing the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), aiming to transfer educational authority back to states and local communities. However, the complete abolition of a federal agency like the DOE requires congressional approval, which was established by an act of Congress in 1979. Therefore, while the executive order initiates the process, it cannot unilaterally dissolve the department without legislative consent.
In response, 21 Democratic state attorneys general, including those from New York, California, and Massachusetts, have filed a lawsuit challenging the executive order. They argue that the president lacks the authority to dismantle a federal agency without congressional approval and express concerns about the potential negative impacts on educational services in their states.
How Are We Impacted?
The dissolution of the DOE could have profound effects on Black communities:
What Can Be Done?
Photo: Getty Images
What’s Happening?
President Trump has intensified his criticism of the judiciary by calling for the impeachment of federal judges who rule against his policies. Recently, he targeted U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg after the judge blocked a deportation order involving Venezuelan nationals. Chief Justice John Roberts publicly rebuked Trump’s call, emphasizing that judicial independence is fundamental to the U.S. constitutional system.
It should be noted that Trump does not have the power to impeach judges —only Congress can do that through a formal process requiring a majority vote in the House and a two-thirds vote in the Senate. Impeaching judges based solely on their rulings, rather than misconduct, would undermine the Constitution and violate the principle of judicial independence. Historically, judicial impeachments have been rare and reserved for serious ethical or legal violations— not disagreements with decisions.
How Are We Impacted?
Getting rid of judicial independence poses significant risks:
What Can Be Done?
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