The Cabinet should reflect leadership, ethics, and a commitment to civil rights

By Margaret Huang, president and CEO of the Southern Poverty Law Center

The next Trump administration is rapidly taking shape, with several key nominations announced that will chart the future of our nation. Like many other civil and human rights organizations, the Southern Poverty Law Center is closely monitoring the president-elect’s picks, as they will have significant authority to determine how civil rights laws will be enforced. 

A strong federal government is essential to ensuring that the rights guaranteed by the Constitution are both protected and applied equally to all Americans and to providing vital resources and services to the most vulnerable populations. In arenas such as housing, education, criminal justice, health care, and more, civil rights laws protect against discrimination and ensure equal opportunity. However, we are concerned that the incoming administration will seek to shift power to individual states and abandon the federal government’s responsibilities to protect everyone’s rights.