PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – A Portland city councilor is speaking out against Mayor Keith Wilson’s executive order directing the city to comply with the Trump administration’s diversity, equity and inclusion mandates.

Mayor Wilson issued the order on Thursday to align with President Donald Trump’s January executive order mandating that government entities with DEI practices would no longer receive federal funding.

Wilson’s order states, “By complying with these laws, City programs and services will provide services, programs, and benefits without regard or preference based on protected class status, consistent with our ongoing commitment to complying with federal nondiscrimination laws.”

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Since the president’s order, Wilson says Portland has had to “wrestle with a difficult question” due to the city’s $349 million in active federal grants that are at risk. About 90% of these grants support the City of Portland’s transportation and housing programs.

“If lost, the funds that keep our roads safe and our neighbors housed will be sharply felt,” Wilson said in a previous statement. “The consequences for accepting grants without compliance are severe, including the possibility of both civil and criminal penalties against anyone who signs for the funds.”

On Thursday, District 1 Councilor Loretta Smith issued a response to the mayor’s executive order, calling the move “underwhelming.”

“This underwhelming executive order does little to advance Portland’s commitment to the Civil Rights Act. Mayor Wilson must adopt stronger language, and clarify existing code to oppose the Trump administration, including potential funding cuts to the City of Portland,” Smith said in a statement.

The Portland city councilor continued, “legal action should be our primary tool to effectively resist President Trump’s misguided executive orders targeting our employees and programs that are already meeting the Civil Rights Act guidelines. Merely emphasizing self monitoring and disparity studies will not prevent the Trump administration from slashing our federal funds.”

There are at least 13 key roles in Portland’s Office of Equity and Human Rights that will be impacted by the city’s compliance.

After Mayor Wilson issued his executive order, he shared a statement that reiterated the city’s commitment to the rights of “people of color, immigrants, women, LGBTQ+ people, and people experiencing disabilities.”