Sadly, Obama is one step closer to his post-presidential dream.
After years of delays, the Obama Presidential Center is finally nearing its opening on Chicago’s South Side—and hiring is now underway. But the job listings make one thing unmistakably clear: ideological alignment is a top priority.
The center, expected to open later this year, is advertising roughly 150 positions, from custodial and security roles to visitor greeters described as “ambassadors of hope.” Applications are being accepted through the end of January.
In a promotional video announcing the hiring push, former President Barack Obama praised the South Side community, pointing to what he described as its resilience, creativity, and cultural strength. He said visitors should feel the spirit of the neighborhood as soon as they arrive on campus.
However, a closer look at the careers section of the Obama Foundation website shows a heavy emphasis on “anti-racism and equity” across nearly all job descriptions—regardless of position or responsibilities.
Multiple listings explicitly state that applicants are expected to support the foundation’s commitment to building what it calls an “actively anti-racist organization.” This language appears even in postings for non-policy roles, including security and facilities positions.
One full-time security officer listing, for example, notes that the foundation is “deeply committed” to advancing anti-racist principles and confronting systemic inequity through its operations and global influence.
The foundation describes its workforce as “equal parts dreamers and doers,” stressing that how goals are achieved matters just as much as the outcomes themselves. Its hiring page links to a detailed statement outlining expectations that staff actively participate in equity initiatives, support diversity-focused hiring practices, and align with the organization’s broader social mission.
That statement also highlights partnerships with the surrounding predominantly Black community and frames anti-racism as an ongoing institutional responsibility rather than a limited policy goal.
Fox News Digital contacted the foundation seeking clarification on how it evaluates whether applicants align with its ideological values and whether non-citizens are eligible for employment. The foundation responded that it hires individuals who share its values and who are legally authorized to work in the United States, including those holding valid work permits.
The center’s strong emphasis on anti-racism comes as President Donald Trump has taken sweeping action to eliminate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs across the federal government.
Within days of returning to the White House, Trump signed executive orders ending DEI initiatives in federal agencies and shifting government hiring and contracting back toward merit-based standards. The policy shift has sent ripple effects through corporate America and nonprofit organizations nationwide.
Speaking before Congress earlier this year, Trump declared that DEI policies had been removed throughout the federal government and military, arguing that ideological programs had replaced competence and fairness.
Originally scheduled to open in 2021, the Obama Presidential Center was delayed by lawsuits, regulatory reviews, and construction challenges. The roughly 20-acre campus will feature a presidential library, museum, auditorium, public gardens, athletic facilities, and a branch of the Chicago Public Library.
The building itself has sparked criticism from some Chicago residents. According to the New York Post, locals have nicknamed the mostly windowless structure the “Obamalisk,” mocking its towering, monolithic appearance.
Foundation deputy director Kim Patterson defended the design in a December interview with CBS News, explaining that the limited windows were intentional to protect artwork and historical artifacts. She also said the structure was designed to resemble four hands coming together as a symbol of collective action.
Despite the controversy, the opening of the Obama Presidential Center marks a significant milestone for the former president’s post-White House legacy—one that blends cultural influence, progressive ideology, and a major physical presence on Chicago’s South Side.
