The Independent Women's Forum (IWF) is planning to file a lawsuit against the U.S. Secret Service for what it alleges is an "arbitrary" diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI) initiative that harms female employees. The lawsuit comes amid criticism of the agency's handling of the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, with some pointing fingers at female USSS agents assigned to his detail.
The Independent Women's Forum (IWF), a nonprofit organization dedicated to women's issues, is preparing to sue the U.S. Secret Service over an alleged "arbitrary" diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI) initiative that it claims discriminates against female employees.
According to the IWF, the Secret Service has implemented a "30%" female quota, which it believes is illegal and harmful to women in the agency. The organization argues that hiring decisions should be based solely on qualifications and expertise, not on factors like gender or other identifying characteristics.
Independent Women's Forum to Sue Secret Service Over Alleged Harmful DEI Policies
May Mailman, director of the IWF, emphasized that the government is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of sex under the 14th Amendment and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. She expressed concern that the quota system undermines the professionalism and dedication of female agents, turning them into "tokens."
Mailman cited the criticism faced by female agents following the assassination attempt on former President Trump as an example of the negative consequences of DEI policies. She argued that the focus on gender rather than competence unfairly shifted blame to these women.
Independent Women's Forum to Sue Secret Service Over Alleged Harmful DEI Policies
The IWF and its partner, the Mountain States Legal Foundation, believe that the 30% quota is "arbitrary" and question why it was chosen over other figures like 29% or 31%. They maintain that the priority should be on hiring the best individuals for the job, regardless of gender.
Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi defended the agency's personnel, stating that all agents and officers are highly trained and capable of performing their missions. He condemned disparaging comments against any of its personnel and emphasized that the agency stands united against attempts to discredit them.
Independent Women's Forum to Sue Secret Service Over Alleged Harmful DEI Policies
The lawsuit stems from concerns raised by some individuals, including conservative commentators Matt Walsh and Dinesh D'Souza, who criticized the handling of the assassination attempt and suggested that female agents may have been less effective due to their gender. Elon Musk also joined in the criticism.
However, President Trump defended the female agents involved in the incident, praising their quick response and shielding actions. He criticized the "fake news" for attacking one agent's height.
Independent Women's Forum to Sue Secret Service Over Alleged Harmful DEI Policies
The IWF and Mountain States Legal Foundation are calling for additional individuals who have experienced hiring or promotional discrimination by the Secret Service to come forward and share their stories. They hope that a lawsuit will force the agency to abandon its alleged discriminatory policies and prioritize merit-based hiring.
