Executive Order 13985 Charges Agencies To Do What

Have you ever felt like government policy is just a series of dense, impenetrable documents that only lawyers and lobbyists actually read? Most people do. But every once in a while, a directive comes down that actually shifts the entire internal compass of the federal government.

Executive Order 13985 is one of those shifts. It isn't just a piece of administrative paperwork. It’s a direct instruction from the President to every single federal agency, telling them that the way they operate—from how they hire people to how they enforce laws—needs a fundamental overhaul.

If you've been hearing people talk about "equity" or "systemic change" in a political context, this is the legal engine driving those conversations within the halls of Washington.

What Is Executive Order 13985

At its core, Executive Order 13985 is a mandate for advancing racial equity and support for advancing civil rights. It was issued to check that the federal government doesn't just talk about fairness but actually builds it into the machinery of every department, from the Department of Justice to the Department of Agriculture.

It’s not just a suggestion. When a President signs an Executive Order like this, it carries the weight of law for the executive branch. It tells agency heads that "business as usual" is no longer an option if that business as usual is producing unequal outcomes for different groups of people.

The Shift from Equality to Equity

This is where a lot of the confusion starts. People often use "equality" and "equity" interchangeably, but in the context of this order, they are very different things.

Equality usually means treating everyone exactly the same—giving everyone the same pair of shoes. That said, equity, however, is about recognizing that people start from different places. It’s about giving people the specific tools they need to reach the same outcome.

The order directs agencies to look at their data, identify where gaps exist, and then adjust their programs to close those gaps. It’s a shift from a "one size fits all" approach to a more surgical, data-driven approach to governance.

The Scope of the Mandate

This order doesn't just apply to one small office. Because of that, it touches everything. * How they distribute funding and resources. Consider this: it affects:

• How agencies collect data on race and ethnicity. * How they evaluate the impact of their regulations.
• How they engage with communities that have been historically left out of the conversation.

It’s a massive, sweeping instruction that requires a total rethink of how a massive bureaucracy functions.

Why It Matters / Why People Care

You might wonder why a single order matters so much when there are a million other things happening in the news. Here’s the thing—the federal government is the largest employer and the largest spender in the country.

When the government changes its internal rules, the ripple effects are enormous. Because of that, if an agency changes how it evaluates housing programs, that affects millions of people's ability to buy homes. If the Department of Labor changes how it monitors workplace discrimination, it changes the landscape for every worker in America.

Changing the Data Landscape

For a long time, many agencies didn't even track certain demographics. It’s hard to fix a problem you aren't measuring. Among all the aspects of this order options, the push for better, more granular data holds the most weight.

If an agency can't see that a specific group is being denied loans or medical services at a higher rate, they can't fix it. This order forces them to look at the numbers, which makes the invisible visible.

Restoring Trust in Institutions

There is a growing sentiment that government institutions are disconnected from the people they serve. When certain communities feel that the law is applied unevenly or that they are consistently overlooked, trust erodes.

By mandating equity and civil rights protections, the goal is to rebuild that social contract. It’s an attempt to prove that the government can be an instrument of fairness rather than a barrier to it.

How It Works (How Agencies Implement It)

The order doesn't just say "be fair" and walk away. Now, it provides a roadmap for how agencies must change their actual operations. It’s a heavy lift for any organization, let alone the federal government.

Data Collection and Analysis

The first step for any agency is to figure out where they stand. This involves a massive undertaking of collecting data on race, ethnicity, and other demographic factors.

But it’s not just about counting heads. It’s about analyzing the outcomes*. Agencies have to look at their existing programs and ask: "Who is benefiting from this, and who is being left behind?" This requires sophisticated statistical modeling and a willingness to look at uncomfortable truths.

Reviewing Agency Regulations

Every agency has a massive library of regulations—the rules that dictate how they operate. The order requires agencies to review these existing rules to see if they have a disparate impact on certain groups.

This isn't just about finding "bad" rules; it's about finding rules that might be neutral on the surface but produce unequal results in practice. It’s a proactive, rather than reactive, approach to civil rights.

For more on this topic, read our article on who was the first immigrant first lady or check out did the u.s. steal land from mexico.

Community Engagement and Outreach

You can't fix what you don't understand. The order emphasizes the need for agencies to actually talk to the people they are trying to serve.

This means moving beyond public comment periods that only attract lobbyists. It means going into communities, holding meetings in different languages, and finding ways to listen to people who have traditionally been ignored by the halls of power.

Common Mistakes / What Most People Get Wrong

Implementing something this massive is bound to have friction. Because it’s a high-profile policy, it often gets misunderstood or misapplied.

Confusing Equity with Favoritism

Among the biggest misconceptions is that "equity" means giving certain groups an unfair advantage. That’s a misunderstanding of the concept.

The goal isn't to pick winners and losers; it's to remove the obstacles that prevent people from competing on a level playing field. It’s about removing the "headwinds" that some groups face so that everyone can actually run the same race.

Treating It as a "Check-the-Box" Exercise

I’ve seen this in many corporate environments, and it happens in government too. There is a risk that agencies will treat this order as a bureaucratic hurdle—a list of boxes to check to satisfy a legal requirement.

If an agency just hires a consultant to write a "diversity report" but doesn't actually change how they distribute grants or enforce rules, the order fails. Real change requires a shift in culture, not just a change in paperwork.

Overlooking the Complexity of Intersectionality

Another mistake is treating demographic groups as monoliths. People don't just exist as "one category." A person might face challenges based on their race, but also based on their gender, their economic status, or their disability status.

If agencies only look at one variable at a time, they miss the full picture. The order pushes for a more nuanced understanding, but the execution often struggles with this complexity.

Practical Tips / What Actually Works

If you are working within a large organization or trying to understand how these policies actually take root, there are a few things that tend to work better than others.

• Prioritize Transparency: When agencies are open about their data—even when the data shows something negative—it builds credibility. Hiding the gaps doesn't make them go away.
• Integrate, Don't Isolate: Equity shouldn't be a separate department that sits in a corner. It has to be integrated into the core mission of the agency. If you're the Department of Transportation, equity belongs in your engineering and planning offices, not just in your HR department.
• Focus on Long-Term Metrics: You won't see the results of these changes overnight. It takes years to shift the trajectory of a social outcome. Success should be measured by long-term trends, not just immediate shifts in numbers.
• Invest in Training: You can't expect a career civil servant to suddenly understand complex sociological concepts without proper training. Real change requires education and a change in the way people are trained to approach their work.

FAQ

Does this order apply to state and local governments?

No. Executive Orders only apply to the executive branch of the federal government. That said, state and local governments often adopt similar policies or are influenced by federal funding requirements that mandate equity standards.

How

the long does it take to see results from these equity initiatives? And real change typically takes 3-5 years to show meaningful progress, though some improvements may be visible sooner. Social and institutional change requires time to shift deeply embedded systems and behaviors.

What happens if agencies don't comply with these equity requirements?

Non-compliance can result in reduced federal funding, legal challenges, and reputational damage. Agencies may also face increased scrutiny from oversight bodies and potential civil rights complaints.

Can individuals within agencies make a difference without formal authority?

Absolutely. Frontline workers, mid-level managers, and even individual employees can drive change through advocacy, peer education, and by modeling equitable practices in their daily work.

Conclusion

Implementing equity in government operations isn't just about checking boxes or following procedures—it's about fundamentally reimagining how public services serve all citizens. While the journey is challenging and requires patience, the potential to create more just and effective government services makes it essential work. That said, as we've seen, true transformation requires sustained commitment, cultural change, and recognition of the complex realities people face. The key lies not in perfect implementation from day one, but in continuous improvement guided by transparency, community input, and unwavering dedication to serving everyone equally.