Americans who play by the rules are watching in stunned silence as institutions from government agencies to elite journals quietly tilt the field against them, and that has to stop. Recent legal fights — including a white Wisconsin dairy farmer’s lawsuit alleging race- and sex-based disadvantages in USDA programs — show this isn’t theory, it’s happening in courtrooms across the country.
Hardworking men who built this country are being told their accomplishments don’t count when diversity checkboxes are more important than merit. Conservative legal groups have even sued academic outlets, accusing publications like the Michigan Law Review of editorial practices that favor identity over qualifications and freeze out white, heterosexual male scholars.
This shift isn’t just anecdote — public opinion has shifted as well, with large segments of Americans questioning whether DEI programs actually help or whether they create new forms of unfairness. Polling shows growing skepticism about programs that prioritize identity categories over ability, and that skepticism is driving real political and legal pushback.
The federal government has taken notice and moved to act, placing DEI offices on pause and demanding agencies remove outward-facing DEI materials while planners sort through the legal and constitutional mess. Conservatives argued for this response because a merit-based system should reward skill and effort, not an applicant’s demographic profile, and the administration’s directives reflect that principle.
Those who cherish fairness should welcome the courts and Congress sorting this out — equality under the law means nobody gets a racial or gender preference at the expense of another American’s opportunity. Lawsuits and legal scrutiny, like those brought by farm and academic plaintiffs, are the right tool to restore equal treatment when bureaucracies overreach.
We must be clear: defending merit and calling out reverse discrimination is not hatred — it is patriotism. It’s about protecting the dignity of every American who works, pays taxes, raises a family, and expects a level playing field from colleges, employers, and government programs.
If conservatives want to win this fight, we cannot be timid. We must rally voters, support principled legal challenges, elect leaders who will defend merit and free speech, and keep pressing until institutions once again reward excellence instead of appearances.
