ST. LOUIS – As debates continue across the country about DEI, the president of the St. Louis NAACP says the program is shaping workplaces and institutions nationwide.

“It basically says that we want to have a diverse workplace that reflects everybody. We want to make sure that everybody in their workplace has just as much chance for promotions and raises as everyone else,” Adolphus Pruitt said.

But DEI has also faced criticism, with some suggesting that certain policies—like hiring quotas—may prioritize diversity over qualifications. Others say the initiatives don’t go far enough.

Thursday, President Donald Trump called the deadly plane and helicopter collision near Washington, D.C., an “hour of anguish” for the U.S. The somber update quickly turned political after Trump blamed the crash on diversity, equity, and inclusion under the former Biden administration.

“We’re going to look into that, and we’re going to see—but certainly for an air traffic controller, we want the brightest, the smartest, the sharpest,” he said.

Meanwhile, combat veteran and U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth fired back.

“By saying that this was a DEI issue, it was basically to say that the crew in that aircraft did not belong there because they had not earned their place there. Let me tell you, as a Black Hawk helicopter pilot—a former one—we all earned out place in that cockpit,” she said. “So, shame on him for questioning the training, the commitment, the experience, and the expertise of the crew that were there.”

Keesha Strong is the VP chief human resource officer at the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis. She says DEI is the framework used by organizations to ensure fair treatment and representation of people from different backgrounds, including race, gender, and socioeconomic status.

When we are speaking of equity, we are really looking at fairness and opportunity. Whether it be in terms of professional development or in terms of resourcing, looking at leveling the playing field in that space,” she said. “When we look at inclusiveness, we look at including all of those things into one space and just making sure that everyone in those spaces feels included, valued and that they belong.”