The Port of Portland’s board of commissioners voted Monday to eliminate a social equity policy over concern the Trump administration could remove a sizable chunk of the agency’s funding.
Since taking office, President Donald Trump has targeted institutions that receive federal funding and maintain diversity, equity and inclusion policies. Those institutions have included universities and schools that rely on federal grants for education and research.
An undated image provided image shows a container ship at the Port of Portland’s Terminal 6, the state’s only international container terminal. The Port of Portland’s board of commissioners voted April 21, 2025 to eliminate a social equity policy over concern the Trump administration could remove a sizable chunk of the agency’s funding.
Courtesy of the Port of Portland
While some agencies and organizations in Oregon and across the country have rejected or sued over the White House’s demands to remove DEI policies, port commissioners said Monday that such a move would carry significant financial risk to shipping, air travel and other operations managed by the port.
Port of Portland Executive Director Curtis Robinhold estimated that at least $145 million in funding could be affected because of the social equity policy. That money would account for roughly 17% of the $850 million port budget over the last fiscal year. Additionally, the port holds a federal contract with the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers for dredging that employs eight full time workers and 50 seasonal employees.
“In order to continue doing work that reflects our core values and to foster a workplace where everyone can thrive, it’s really critical that we do everything we can to make sure the funding needed to maintain port operations is not at risk,” Robinhold told the board before recommending they remove the policy.
Adopted in 2018, the policy lays out the agency’s “commitment to social equity, using a racial equity focus, and to leveraging the Port’s strengths to create a more prosperous, equitable and livable region.”
Board members and port staff who spoke at Monday’s meeting expressed displeasure with their decision, even as commissioners voted 6-1 to revoke the policy.
“I think this is temporary. It is different words, but no question it is the same heart. The same leadership,” Commissioner Katherine Lam said. “Our values don’t live in the policies. It’s in us.”
Commissioner Mike DeVaughn described the policy change as a “trade off that we really don’t want to make.”
Sticking with the policy would affect a “litany of programs” for the Port of Portland, according to Robinhold, including dredging of the port.
“This is a very hard decision. It’s a hard reality,” Commissioner Rukaiyah Adams said. “I appreciate the straightforward approach to this and acknowledge the difficulty. We look forward to continuing to see the impact of these ideas in reality, day-to-day life.”
Port officials received around 70 pieces of public testimony, according to commission President Katy Coba, who said the majority was in support of the social equity policy. Commissioners Ketan Sampat and Sam Johnson were not present for Monday’s vote. Commissioner Meg Niemi was the sole vote against the resolution.
Editor’s note: Rukaiyah Adams and Curtis Robinhold serve on OPB’s board of directors.
