Laverne Cox Claims Trump Administration’s DEI Rollbacks Have Slashed Her Income

Actress Laverne Cox says her earnings have dropped by about 90 percent in the last two years. She links the decline to the loss of corporate speaking gigs, university teaching contracts, and a three-year hosting role on E!’s “Live From the Red Carpet.” The shortfall has forced her to draw on personal savings and a retirement account.

Laverne Cox Says She’s Lost ‘So Much Money’ Due to Trump Administration’s DEI Crackdown

Since taking office in January 2025, President Donald Trump has signed executive orders that eliminate DEI programs in federal agencies and define sex as male or female at birth. The measures echo the Heritage Foundation’s “Project 2025” plan, which calls for removing references to gender identity, LGBTQ issues, DEI, abortion and contraception from federal policy.

Laverne Cox Says She Lost 90% of Income Due to Trump Administration’s Anti-DEI and Gender Policies

• Laverne Cox – Emmy-nominated actress, author of *Transcendent*, LGBTQ advocate.

Variety Magazine

• President Donald Trump – U.S. president directing DEI rollbacks.

Laverne Cox Says She Lost 90% of Income Due to Trump Administration’s Anti-DEI and Gender Policies

• Heritage Foundation – Conservative think tank behind Project 2025.

Laverne Cox Says She Lost 90% of Income Due to Trump Administration’s Anti-DEI and Gender Policies

• Federal agencies – Bodies enforcing the new executive orders.

Laverne Cox Says She Lost 90% of Income Due to Trump Administration’s Anti-DEI and Gender Policies

Income reduction: about 90 percent of total earnings. Teaching: graduate-acting class offers cancelled. Speaking: corporate and academic invitations reduced. Hosting: contract ended after three years in January 2025. Personal finance: retirement savings accessed to cover expenses.

Laverne Cox Says She’s Lost ‘So Much Money’ Due to Trump Administration’s DEI Crackdown

The orders (1) define sex as male or female at birth, (2) prohibit DEI initiatives in federal departments, (3) bar transgender individuals from military service, and (4) exclude transgender women and girls from women’s sports. Officials frame these steps as a response to “gender ideology” in public institutions.

Laverne Cox Says She Lost 90% of Income Due to Trump Administration’s Anti-DEI and Gender Policies

All sources convey the same 90 percent loss and causal link; no independent audits or third-party data. The timeline is described both as “the past few years” and “since Trump returned to office,” leaving the start date ambiguous.

Laverne Cox Says She Lost 90% of Income Due to Trump Administration’s Anti-DEI and Gender Policies

• “This regime has threatened to defund any colleges and universities that promote gender ideology, DEI,” — Laverne Cox, interview with *The Guardian*

Hollywood Reporter

• “Even though I’d be teaching a graduate acting class, it could be perceived as promoting trans ideology. These are the realities.” — Laverne Cox, interview with *The Guardian*

Variety Magazine

• “All these words had to be taken out of every piece of legislation, policy, government document: gender, gender ideology, gender identity, LGBTQ, DEI, abortion, contraception.” — Laverne Cox, interview with *The Guardian*

Variety Magazine

• “If we don’t wake up and don’t understand, trans people will be exterminated,” — Laverne Cox, interview with *The Guardian*

Hollywood Reporter

• “It’s never been about protecting women — it’s always been about creating a permission structure to scapegoat trans people, to dehumanise trans people, to take away our rights and to eliminate us from public life.” — Laverne Cox, interview with *The Guardian*

Hollywood Reporter

Cox continues promoting *Transcendent* and speaking on the financial impact while pursuing acting projects and LGBTQ advocacy; no legal action regarding her income loss has been announced.

Out Magazine