Washington, D.C., January 21, 2025 — Rep. Grace Meng, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), issued a statement in response to President Trump’s Executive Order dissolving the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI).
Meng expressed disappointment in the decision to dismantle the initiative, which has played a vital role in connecting these communities to the federal government for the past 25 years. The White House Initiative has been a bipartisan institution across multiple administrations, providing a platform to amplify the voices of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AA & NHPI) in federal policymaking.
“I am disappointed that the new Administration decided that it was an important Day 1 priority to dissolve the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders,” said Rep. Meng. “The Initiative has been essential in strengthening the connection between AA & NHPI communities and the federal government, and its dissolution undermines the critical work that has been done to engage and uplift these communities.”
Despite the dissolution of the initiative, Rep. Meng reaffirmed CAPAC’s commitment to working with any administration, regardless of party affiliation, to ensure that AA & NHPI communities remain an integral part of the federal policymaking process.
“CAPAC remains committed to working with any administration, from either party, to ensure AA & NHPI communities are engaged in the federal policymaking process and are not left behind,” Meng added.
The White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders has historically been an important resource for advocacy, policy, and engagement for these diverse communities. With the dissolution of the initiative, CAPAC and its members will continue their efforts to advocate for policies that ensure the well-being and inclusion of AA & NHPI communities at the federal level.
