Cedar Rapids presses ‘pause’ on DEI program as other area institutions assess internally

CEDAR RAPIDS — The city of Cedar Rapids has “paused” internal initiatives related to diversity, equity and inclusion amid mounting state and federal pressure to dismantle related programming.

In a February email sent to city staff and provided to The Gazette, City Manager Jeff Pomeranz wrote that the city reviewed its diversity, equity, accessibility and inclusion programs in light of “recent presidential executive orders.”

As a result, Pomeranz’s email states the city “made the difficult decision to pause (its) DEI program and related initiatives.” City officials declined to comment beyond a statement already included within the initial message to city staff.

The move applies to programming previously overseen by Elizabeth Buch, who in 2021 was hired as the city’s first diversity, equity and inclusion manager. It does not apply to the city’s citizen police review board or its civil rights commission.

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Buch has since been reassigned to a recruitment-focused role in human resources, per Pomeranz’s email, and her online LinkedIn profile now lists her as a program manager for the city manager’s office.

Within his statement to city staff, Pomeranz attributed the pause to concerns about how the city’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts could affect the availability of federal funds considered “critical” to supporting essential city services.

“The City of Cedar Rapids relies on federal grants to improve infrastructure, transportation, affordable housing, public safety, emergency preparedness, clean water access, and economic recovery,” the email reads. “Our active federal grants total approximately $306.5 million, supporting road and trail infrastructure, transit operations, the Flood Control System, housing assistance, law enforcement, disaster response and energy efficiency.”

Since assuming office, President Donald Trump has made several moves to dismantle or reduce diversity and inclusion programs via threats to revoke federal funding from institutions engaged in certain kinds of DEI-related programming.

Those executive orders have been challenged in federal court, and injunctions have been issued against large swaths of the orders’ guidance related to diversity, equity and inclusion programming to give judges time to review the mandates.

Citing those injunctions, area advocates have raised concerns about the city’s decision to pause its diversity and equity programming.

At a recent council meeting, representatives from local equity advocacy organization Advocates for Social Justice spoke against what they cast as “preemptive compliance” with guidance that might never take effect.

Speaking with The Gazette, ASJ board president Angel Ramirez critiqued the city’s decision to pause diversity programming without public input. The pause was announced to city staff in late February without the matter appearing on a public-facing agenda.

“It would have been ideal if (the city) had brought in experts to discuss this,” Ramirez said. “They should have been leaning on others in the community that would be more than willing, eager even, to have those conversations before any final, harmful decision was made.”

Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell described the decision to pause the city’s diversity, equity and inclusion programming as an internal organizational decision aimed at positively positioning the city to comply with state and federal mandates.

She stressed that the city remains committed to fostering a welcoming environment for its citizens and staff, but that the ways in which that work is done must be able to evolve and comply with regulatory guidance.

“The federal landscape is tumultuous right now, and we have a responsibility as a city to ensure that we remain eligible for these essential funds,” O’Donnell said. “This decision was not made lightly, and it was based on careful review alongside city staff and members of the council.”

The city’s considerations were further informed by House Study Bill 155, a bill proposed in the Iowa Legislature that would ban state and local governments from funding a diversity, equity and inclusion office or to hire any diversity, equity and inclusion officers.

The bill has passed through committee, although it has not yet faced a full floor vote.

A similar bill in the Iowa Senate — Senate Study Bill 1150 — passed through committee Monday.

Even still, Ramirez said the city’s decision to pause diversity and inclusion programming raises a “red flag” for area advocates.

“Embracing diversity, equity, accessibility and inclusion should be a moral commitment for our city, not a political agenda,” she said. “I think the fact that it isn’t feeling like a commitment right now is a red flag that the community needs to be aware of.”

Other municipalities, districts assessing DEI programs

Cedar Rapids is not alone in its efforts to evaluate its equity-related programming, and area municipal and school officials report ongoing assessments of internal practices and programs.

Linn County Communications Specialist Britt Nielsen said county staff are completing an inventory of programming and services related to diversity, equity and inclusion and how those efforts could potentially affect federal funding opportunities.

That process is ongoing, Nielsen said, and no changes have been made to current programs.

Iowa City officials are remaining similarly vigilant of evolving state and federal guidance, although City Manager Geoff Fruin stressed that no changes have been made in response to recent executive orders.

"Iowa City has not made any changes to positions or practices since January. We will continue to review state and federal law changes to ensure we remain compliant," Fruin said in a written statement.

Calls to Johnson County’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Office were not returned Monday, although the committee’s website remains available and active on the county website.

Area school districts also have turned an internal eye on their diversity and inclusion programming in recent months. As of Monday, the previously published diversity web page had been removed from the Cedar Rapids Community School District website.

The CRCSD website previously listed the district’s written commitment to an “inclusive environment where all students and staff can thrive” and included the district’s internal initiatives related to diversity, equity and inclusion.

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In response to inquiries from The Gazette about the page’s removal, CRCSD Director of Brand Communications Heather Butterfield stated that evaluations are underway of district programming relating to diversity, equity and inclusion.

“The Cedar Rapids Community School District remains committed to every one of our students, staff, and community members,” Butterfield wrote. “We are currently working closely with legal counsel as we receive directives from the state and federal Departments of Education and making adjustments as required.“

Iowa City schools officials did not respond to requests for comment Monday, nor did officials with the College Community School District.

Comments: grace.nieland@thegazette.com