In 2020, the United States experienced a series of reckonings, from continued racial injustice to the devastating but unequal impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the largest employer in the nation, encompassing agencies that affect every aspect of life in the U.S., the federal government has the opportunity to be a leader in the urgent and necessary work of diversity, equity and inclusion. 

The center of government—the White House, the Office of Personnel Management, the Office of Management and Budget and the General Services Administration—is uniquely positioned to drive diversity, equity and inclusion across the federal enterprise. By setting goals and policy priorities, these federal entities can act as propagators and enablers in charting an ambitious course for stronger DEI across government. To catalyze this work and lay a foundation for the next four years, the Biden administration should implement the following diversity, equity and inclusion recommendations during its first 100 days: