During a cross‑country business trip that spanned jetliners, freight trains, driverless taxis, megacruise ships and iconic bridges, the author observed a single truth: America’s great works of engineering were created through meritocracy, not identity politics. From the soaring towers of New York City to the Golden Gate Bridge, each project succeeded because the most qualified engineers, pilots and builders earned their positions.
DEI’s Return Could Undermine Safety
The author warns that if the “religion of wokeism” resurfaces in government, the safety of countless Americans could be jeopardized. When hiring decisions in critical fields—commercial aviation, air‑traffic control, maritime command, trucking, police, fire departments and utilities—are driven by identity considerations rather than proven competence, the risk to public lives rises.
Trump Administration’s Defense of Merit‑Based Hiring
President Trump and his administration have repeatedly emphasized that the nation’s security depends on selecting the best qualified individuals. Recent statements from the Department of Justice and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) underscore this stance. OCC Director Jonathan Gould reported “irrefutable evidence that the nation’s largest banks have denied, debanked and discriminated against customers and lawful businesses,” a practice the administration says must be stopped to protect both economic freedom and public safety.
Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott (R‑SC) echoed the sentiment, calling the debanking of Americans over faith or politics “simply un‑American.” He pledged that the committee will continue to confront such discriminatory practices when Congress reconvenes.
Potential Political Shift Raises Alarm
With the November 3 election looming, the author notes that a Democratic sweep of the House and possibly the Senate could empower DEI advocates across corporate, academic, media and governmental spheres. The concern is that new DEI mandates might force organizations to prioritize demographic characteristics over merit, especially in safety‑critical occupations.
Case Study: Airline Industry
The piece cites a Wall Street Journal editorial criticizing United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby for promoting a wealth‑tax agenda and for pledging to train 5,000 pilots, half of whom would be women or people of color. While diversity is a worthy goal, the author argues that the primary qualification for pilots must remain flight proficiency and safety record, not demographic quotas.
Kirby’s partnership with JPMorgan Chase to “diversify pilot ranks” is highlighted as an example of corporate DEI initiatives intersecting with financial institutions already under scrutiny for alleged “debanking” of conservative and faith‑based customers.
What Should Communities Do?
Local leaders, parents and faith‑based groups are urged to stay vigilant. By supporting policies that emphasize merit and by holding elected officials accountable, citizens can help ensure that critical services remain safe and effective.
The Trump administration’s recent expansion of religious‑liberty protections, following major Supreme Court rulings, provides a legal framework for challenging DEI mandates that conflict with constitutional rights and public‑safety concerns.
Looking Ahead
As the nation approaches the midterm elections, the author calls on Americans to remember that the country’s greatest achievements—its bridges, skyscrapers and transportation networks—were built by the most capable individuals, not by meeting identity quotas. Maintaining this merit‑based approach is essential to preserving both liberty and safety for future generations.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
