I love the Op-Ed section of the paper. I believe we all need to write at least one letter on something we’re passionate about in our lifetime. In saying that, I applaud this reader

I am a blind federal worker who has worked for a major federal agency for almost 50 years. I’ve been able to have an extremely successful career by virtue of my skill and a lot of help from colleagues and friends, and because of federal diversity, equity and inclusion efforts and accessibility policies.

There’s been a lot of progress in accessibility and inclusion over the past 50 years. The Trump administration’s executive order targeting “‘diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility’ mandates, policies, programs, preferences, and activities in the Federal Government, under whatever name they appear,” threatens that progress.

The order says that the federal government should reward “individual initiative, skills, performance, and hard work.” So why has the White House directed the Office of Management and Budget and the Office of Personnel Management to terminate the programs at issue in the executive order? Despite this administration’s claims, it’s precisely those accessibility laws and policies that make it possible for people like me to have successful careers serving our country and fairly compete for promotion.

There’s been a lot of progress in accessibility and inclusion over the past 50 years. The Trump administration’s executive order targeting “‘diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility’ mandates, policies, programs, preferences, and activities in the Federal Government, under whatever name they appear,” threatens that progress.

The order says that the federal government should reward “individual initiative, skills, performance, and hard work.” So why has the White House directed the Office of Management and Budget and the Office of Personnel Management to terminate the programs at issue in the executive order? Despite this administration’s claims, it’s precisely those accessibility laws and policies that make it possible for people like me to have successful careers serving our country and fairly compete for promotion.

Unfortunately, given past performance, the chances of that happening are about the same as me getting my sight back.

John Riehl, Laurel