BRUSSELS — NATO staff is watering down language around climate, gender and diversity as a precaution to avoid retaliation by the Trump administration, according to three people familiar with the matter.
Phrases dealing with climate and women and security have been rephrased in new NATO legislation drafted by its committees and working groups with language thought to be more acceptable to the U.S. as the alliance faces an uncertain future during Donald Trump’s second term in the White House.
The new administration is against so-called diversity, equity and inclusion or DEI efforts, trying to block funding for universities and stripping federal programs that incorporate the measures. It is also purging the Pentagon to eradicate all vestiges of such programs.
“Everyone sees on the news where the Trump admin stands; you don’t want to do anything that shoots yourself in the foot,” said one official.
