On his second full day in office, Gov. Mike Braun signed a slew of executive orders under the general theme of government efficiency ― among them, orders to rid the state government of any diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, mandate in-office work for state employees and remove degree requirements for state jobs.
“You can see what this is about,” he told reporters in his newly occupied governor’s office, standing before a wall that’s now blank, waiting for him to choose his own portraits to hang. “Making Indiana government more efficient, more transparent, more accountable. Every decision is being made with the goal of improving services for Hoosiers and maximizing the value of taxpayer dollars.”
As governor, Braun has the power to enact orders that affect the functioning and organization of the executive branch.
Braun is closing Holcomb’s DEI office
Braun’s executive order banishing DEI initiatives from state government includes closing the Office of the Chief Equity, Inclusion and Opportunity Officer ― a cabinet position outgoing Gov. Eric Holcomb created in 2020 following the criminal justice protests across the nation and in Indianapolis that year.
Chief Equity Officer Karrah Herring acknowledged then that she might only be around as long as Holcomb would be around, but said she nonetheless intended to help identify and remove institutional barriers for Hoosiers of all backgrounds to access opportunities. She could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
His order cites the landmark Supreme Court precedent set in 2023 through the Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard case, in which the justices outlawed affirmative action. State agencies, he ordered, cannot spend money on DEI positions, activities or training if they “grant preferential treatment” based on race or ethnicity; nor can they mandate any employee to disclose their preferred pronouns.
Braun said he thinks “DEI” should be replaced with “MEI”: merit, excellence and innovation.
The move has been met with condemnation by the Indiana Senate Democratic caucus and numerous Black-led social justice organizations, like the Baptist Minister’s Alliance, the Concerned Clergy of Indianapolis and the National Action Network of Indiana, which are calling on Braun to reverse his decision.
“Replacing DEI with so-called merit, excellence, and intelligence reflects a misguided understanding of equity and ignores the systemic barriers that continue to hinder marginalized communities,” reads a statement from the leaders of these groups. “True merit and excellence can only be achieved when individuals are provided with equitable access to resources and opportunities, regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender, or socioeconomic background.”
Gov. Mike Braun signs his first executive orders as Governor of Indiana, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025 in his office at Indiana Statehouse.
The end of remote work for state employees
The state first allowed government employees to work from home in March 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic surged.
Holcomb also issued an executive order mandating a full return to work in 2021, and yet according to Braun’s executive order, executive branch employees logged more than 7 million hours of remote work in 2024 alone.
Now, Braun is ordering full-time state employees to begin working in person every day by July 1.
“We believe in the value of in-person collaboration and believe this will foster a stronger and more connected state workforce,” he said.
Removing college degree requirements for state jobs
One of Braun’s executive orders directs the state personnel department to review all state job postings to determine if a college degree is “necessary to perform the job duties.” If it isn’t, he says, get rid of that requirement.
Braun wants to see degree requirements replaced with skills and experience-based standards.
“In the enterprise I ran for 37 years, some of our best employees were just good at what they wanted to come and do for you,” he said, referring to his company Meyer Distributing. “This is going to attract a broader pool of talent. I know it works.”
Gov. Mike Braun speaks to the media after signing his first executive orders as Governor of Indiana, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025 in his office at Indiana Statehouse.
Other executive orders
Here are the basics of six other executive orders Braun signed Wednesday:
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Executive order 25-11: Creates a central page of all the active Executive Orders, even ones from previous governors, that are still in effect.
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Executive order 25-12: Requires the Office of Management and Budget to create incentives for state agencies to exceed efficiency and cost-savings goals.
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Executive order 25-13: Creates a public dashboard of the performance metrics that state agencies will have to adhere to, such as customer satisfaction, policy outcomes and staffing.
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Executive order 25-17: Requires state agencies to review and remove redundant administrative rules, with the aim of reducing regulations by 25% by January 2029.
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Executive order 25-18: Streamlines licensure processes by allowing agencies to remove degree or background-check requirements that aren’t relevant to the job being licensed.
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Executive order 25-19: Requires the state to implement a risk management program for its cloud computing services, with the goal of streamlining procurement processes and reducing cybersecurity risks.
Contact IndyStar state government and politics reporter Kayla Dwyer at kdwyer@indystar.com or follow her on X@kayla_dwyer17.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Banning DEI, return-to-work: Gov. Mike Braun signs executive orders