Just hours after his inauguration this week, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to halt “radical and wasteful government DEI programs.” This decision could have major consequences for rural and low-income areas across the country, where critical projects are now at risk.

The order targets Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, putting federal employees overseeing these programs on paid leave and calling for an end to policies and activities tied to DEI efforts. Critics argue these programs only made the immigrant problem worse and took opportunities away from White Americans.

But the impact goes beyond workplace policies. The order also takes aim at “environmental justice” projects, which often support vulnerable communities. Federal grants for essential upgrades, like wastewater treatment plants and storm shelters, could face delays or cancellations. For example, a $23 million project in DePue, Illinois, and a $2.5 million safe room in Danville, Arkansas, are now in jeopardy.

These projects were largely supported by former President Joe Biden’s Justice40 initiative, which directed 40% of federal climate and clean energy spending to disadvantaged areas. Billions of dollars from Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law have funded everything from solar energy on tribal lands to electric school buses in polluted neighborhoods.

Experts warn that Trump’s move could deepen systemic inequalities. “The revocation of these executive orders signals what this administration values — and it’s not the American people,” says a former environmental justice official. While funds already distributed are safe, pending projects face uncertainty.

Environmental justice advocates emphasize that these programs are about basic rights, not politics. “The right to clean air, water, and fair enforcement of environmental laws isn’t affirmative action — it’s a constitutional right,” says a leading environmental justice scholar.

With the potential loss of these programs, rural and low-income communities could face heightened risks from climate change, extreme weather, and pollution. As one advocate put it, “We’ll be fighting back. These cuts threaten the very foundation of a safe and clean environment for all.”

The future of these initiatives remains unclear, but one thing is certain: the decision will have far-reaching effects on America’s most vulnerable populations.