In the move to obliterate diversity, equity and inclusion, one word — merit — has stood out as an effective cudgel. The president’s executive orders claim to restore “meritocracy” and “merit-based opportunity” from the scourge of DEI. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth condemns the “toxic ideological garbage” of inclusive practices while lauding the idea of “merit only.” Activists against diversity efforts echo this theme. Heather Mac Donald, author of the book “When Race Trumps Merit,” states: “At present, you can have diversity, or you can have meritocracy. You cannot have both.” When the chief executive of Scale AI argued that DEI should be replaced by MEI (merit, excellence and intelligence), Elon Musk amplified the proposed shift as “great.” MORE