The National Urban League released its annual "State of Black America" report on Thursday, July 30, 2026, concluding that prospects for minorities in the United States are under threat during the second Trump administration.

Authored by the 116-year-old civil rights organization alongside lawmakers and business leaders, the report notes significant changes across political, economic, and international fronts affecting Black Americans.

The report criticizes the Secretary of the Department of War for allegedly refusing to promote Black military leaders, firing them discriminatorily, and refusing to have them photographed with the sitting President, attributing these actions to racism. It also condemns the transformation of the Department of Justice's Civil Rights division and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) into entities that favor white men, calling this government-sanctioned racism. Additionally, it cites recent Supreme Court rulings as an "assault on voting rights that disproportionately silences our community."

The report follows the removal of Air Force Gen. CQ Brown Jr. as chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the DOJ's ruling that the EEOC's hiring guidelines are unconstitutional, with the DOJ encouraging white employees to report workplace discrimination.

The National Urban League highlights a rise in unemployment among Black employees after years of steady gains. It also notes that within months, companies, law firms, and educational institutions faced lawsuits and funding withdrawals for efforts to address historical racism that has contributed to economic inequality since 1776.

While the Pentagon and DOJ did not immediately comment, the White House defended President Trump's initiatives to fund historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and broader policies aimed at uplifting Black communities.

The National Urban League emphasized that the responsibility to foster a fairer society extends beyond political leaders to the public at large.

Sources