Port of Portland to vote on revoking DEI policies

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The Port of Portland is set to vote on Monday to revoke its diversity, equity and inclusion policies.

According to the Port of Portland, a Special Port commission meeting is scheduled for Monday to discuss their social equity policy following the enactment of President Trump’s DEI Executive Order 14151.

In the agenda for Monday’s meeting,

based on the executive director’s recommendation, the Port of Portland is to revoke its social equity policy and “ensure that the Port of Portland remains in compliance with applicable laws and policies.”

The agenda goes on to say that Port of Portland staff will be directed “to uphold Port of Portland values and foster a workplace where all can thrive; and, if necessary, to develop a new or, if preferred, modify an existing administrative policy, to reflect these compliance and values directives.”

“The Port of Portland is committed to serving our region and it’s important that we remain in federal compliance to continue doing work that reflects our values,” the Port of Portland said in a statement.

Portland International Airport is dependent on federal grants, the Port of Portland said, but they are also a federal contractor for the Army Corps of Engineers.

“What’s become clearer in the weeks since the Executive Order was issued is that we need to make good faith efforts to meet compliance expectations—and that includes revisiting certain policies,” Port of Portland said. “Not only is PDX federal grant-dependent, but we are also a federal contractor by virtue of our dredging contract with the Army Corps of Engineers.”

This meeting comes on the heels of Oregon Governor Tina Kotek directing local schools to keep DEI practices, despite threats from the Trump Administration.

The Port of Portland’s social equity policy was approved in 2018 to “create a more prosperous, equitable and livable region.”