Seattle’s Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, one of the world’s leading research institutions, has announced the complete dismantling of its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs in response to a new executive order by President Donald Trump. The decision follows a federal mandate tying future research funding to the termination of DEI-related activities, which the administration argues have politicized science and sidelined merit. Fred Hutch cancels DEI.
“Without these funds now or in the future, we can’t fulfill our mission,” Fred Hutch stated, noting that federal grants comprise more than 70% of its research budget—over $400 million annually. The cancer center has already removed its DEI webpage and scrubbed past program documentation from public view.
President Trump’s executive order, now being enforced across federal agencies, requires the elimination of DEI, DEIA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility), and environmental justice initiatives. The order mandates a comprehensive review of hiring practices, contracts, and other DEI-linked performance standards, aiming to re-center agencies on mission-first objectives rather than ideological agendas.
The policy shift comes at a time of legal controversy for Fred Hutch. A former employee, Tammy Weitzman, is suing the institution for alleged antisemitism, political discrimination, and retaliation. Weitzman claims she was targeted and eventually fired after expressing concerns about radical messaging embedded in DEI training. Among the allegations: she was verbally harassed, mocked during DEI sessions, and reprimanded for treating the daughter of a former Trump official.
Weitzman recounted being called slurs including “white kke” and “white Canadian btch,” and said her complaints were ignored. Instead, she was directed to take more DEI training. When she objected to politicized materials being circulated in a healthcare setting, a DEI facilitator responded by accusing her of prioritizing her “white comfort” and referenced Trump-era politics to justify her stance.
Shortly after, Weitzman was fired for “ethnicity sensitivity” issues and “misalignment” with Fred Hutch’s mission. Her lawsuit, seeking at least $75,000 in damages, is ongoing.
Fred Hutch’s leadership insists its core mission remains intact despite the DEI rollback. “Fred Hutch promotes the belief that everyone deserves a life free from cancer,” the center stated. But for critics, the lawsuit and sudden shutdown of DEI programs expose deeper issues of political overreach and ideological bias in institutions intended to serve all patients—regardless of background or belief.
