Criminalizing Non-Compliance Through Fear
We have been overwhelmed in only a few days by oligarchic “executive” acts aimed at dismantling civil rights, equity, and any democratic principles people have fought and died for. Make no mistake, this is a carefully calibrated attack – years in the making – engineered by billionaires. Since Trump is no student of history and incapable of analytical thinking, these initiatives are part of a larger network of policymakers, legal scholars, and business interests seeking to reshape the U.S. government and society along more authoritarian lines. Conservative think tanks like the Heritage Foundation and the Federalist Society have long provided the intellectual framework for Republican administrations. They produce policy blueprints, judicial appointments lists, and legislative strategies. Steve Bannon and other populist ideologues have articulated a strategy to “deconstruct the administrative state,” which aligns closely with efforts to weaken DEI initiatives, reclassify federal workers, and reduce regulatory oversight. Charles Koch and associated foundations have historically funded conservative causes and politicians, focusing on reducing government oversight, regulatory frameworks, and social programs that might constrain free-market capitalism. Dark money donors and Super PACs funded by anonymous donors, such as those affiliated with Leonard Leo (Federalist Society), wield significant influence by directing resources to reshape public institutions and political discourse. They’ve finally found a perfect “front man” in Trump – or as Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright called Trump, “a useful idiot” someone who gladly serves at the behest of a clandestine plutocracy and will gladly strip the most vulnerable of the population of all protections.
Trump’s executive order dismantling Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) offices and creating penalties for those who fail to report “disguised” diversity programs draws troubling parallels to the tactics employed by the Nazis to create a climate of fear and compliance. The memo asks workers to report any effort to “disguise” diversity programs “by using coded or imprecise language,” and that those who don’t report such practices will face “adverse consequences.” This unabashed threat to ensure compliance is taken right out of the Nazi playbook. If you have any doubts – here is where we’re headed.
- Criminalizing Non-Compliance Through Fear
The directive threatens “adverse consequences” for failing to report perceived violations, a hallmark of authoritarian regimes. During the Nazi regime, citizens were coerced into policing each other, with the Gestapo relying heavily on civilian reports to root out dissent. Similarly, Trump’s order weaponizes fear, compelling federal employees to self-regulate and report colleagues to avoid repercussions, fostering distrust and paranoia.
- Dehumanization and Targeting of Ideologies
The Nazis targeted specific groups, labeling them as enemies of the state to justify their persecution. Trump’s executive order, by singling out DEIA efforts and framing them as harmful or subversive, creates a comparable narrative. This vilification seeks to erode public support for diversity programs and normalize their removal, much as the Nazis normalized persecution under the guise of protecting German values.
- Erosion of Institutional Independence
Under the Nazis, institutions were purged of those deemed ideologically non-compliant, with civil servants required to swear allegiance to the regime. Trump’s order, which enforces loyalty to the dismantling of DEIA initiatives and mandates reporting on “coded” practices, mirrors this tactic. The message is clear: align with the administration’s ideology or face professional and personal consequences.
[On Day 1, Trump moved to strip thousands of civil servants of their employment protections. Roughly 160 National Security Council career officials already have been sent home amid “loyalty screenings.”]
- Normalization of Fear-Based Governance
One of the most insidious elements of the Nazi regime was its ability to make ordinary citizens complicit in its actions through fear of punishment. Trump’s executive order similarly enlists employees as enforcers of policy, placing the burden of compliance on individuals and creating an environment where self-preservation takes precedence over solidarity or ethical action.
Historical Lessons
The Nazis’ rise to power illustrates how fear, institutional purges, and the criminalization of dissent erode democratic structures and values. By using executive orders to eliminate DEIA offices, enforce ideological conformity, and criminalize resistance, Trump risks replicating these patterns of authoritarian control. While the situations differ in scale and historical context, the tactics employed highlight the dangers of undermining institutional safeguards and fostering a culture of fear. DO. NOT. OBEY.
— Deborah Johnstone