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The Guardian
15-03-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Court lifts block on Trump order to end federal support for DEI programs
An appeals court on Friday lifted a block on executive orders seeking to end government support for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs, handing the Trump administration a win after a string of setbacks from dozens of lawsuits. The decision from a three-judge panel allows the orders to be enforced as a lawsuit challenging them plays out. The appeals court judges halted a nationwide injunction from US district judge Adam Abelson in Baltimore. Two of the judges on the fourth US circuit court of appeals wrote that Trump's anti-DEI push could eventually raise concerns about first amendment rights but said the judge's sweeping block went too far. 'My vote should not be understood as agreement with the orders' attack on efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion,' Judge Pamela Harris wrote. Two of the panel's members were appointed by Barack Obama, while the third was appointed by Trump. Abelson had found the orders likely violated free speech rights and were unconstitutionally vague since they didn't have a specific definition of DEI. Trump signed an order his first day in office directing federal agencies to terminate all 'equity-related' grants or contracts. He signed a follow-up order requiring federal contractors to certify that they don't promote DEI. The city of Baltimore and other groups sued the Trump administration, arguing the executive orders are an unconstitutional overreach of presidential authority. The justice department has argued that the president was targeting only DEI programs that violate federal civil rights laws. Government attorneys said the administration should be able to align federal spending with the president's priorities. Abelson, who was nominated by Joe Biden, agreed with the plaintiffs that the executive orders discourage businesses, organizations, and public entities from openly supporting diversity, equity and inclusion. Efforts to increase diversity long have been under attack by Republicans, who contend the measures threaten merit-based hiring, promotion and educational opportunities for white people. Supporters say the programs help institutions meet the needs of increasingly diverse populations while addressing the lasting impacts of systemic racism. Their purpose was to foster equitable environments in businesses and schools, especially for historically marginalized communities. Researchers say DEI initiatives date back to the 1960s but were expanded in 2020 during increased calls for racial justice. In addition to the mayor and the Baltimore city council, the plaintiffs include the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education, the American Association of University Professors and the Restaurant Opportunities Centers United, which represents restaurant workers across the country.
Boston Globe
15-03-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Appeals court lifts blocks on Trump's orders restricting diversity, equity, and inclusion programs
'My vote should not be understood as agreement with the orders' attack on efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion,' Judge Pamela Harris wrote. Two of the panel's members were appointed by President Barack Obama, while the third was appointed by Trump. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Abelson had found the orders likely violated free-speech rights and are unconstitutionally vague since they don't have a specific definition of DEI. Advertisement Trump signed an order his first day in office directing federal agencies to terminate all 'equity-related' grants or contracts. He signed a follow-up order requiring federal contractors to certify that they don't promote DEI. The city of Baltimore and other groups sued the Trump administration, arguing the executive orders are an unconstitutional overreach of presidential authority. The Justice Department has argued that the president was targeting only DEI programs that violate federal civil rights laws. Government attorneys said the administration should be able to align federal spending with the president's priorities. Abelson, who was nominated by Democratic President Joe Biden, agreed with the plaintiffs that the executive orders discourage businesses, organizations and public entities from openly supporting diversity, equity and inclusion. Efforts to increase diversity long have been under attack by Republicans who contend the measures threaten merit-based hiring, promotion and educational opportunities for white people. Supporters say the programs help institutions meet the needs of increasingly diverse populations while addressing the lasting impacts of systemic racism. Their purpose was to foster equitable environments in businesses and schools, especially for historically marginalized communities. Researchers say DEI initiatives date back to the 1960s but they expanded in 2020 during increased calls for racial justice. Advertisement In addition to the mayor and the Baltimore City Council, the plaintiffs include the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education, the American Association of University Professors and the Restaurant Opportunities Centers United, which represents restaurant workers across the country. Associated Press writer Lea Skene contributed to this story.
Yahoo
22-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Federal judge temporarily halts Trump's anti-DEI crusade
A federal judge temporarily blocked a series of executive orders from President Donald Trump aimed at gutting diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives within the federal government late Friday night. U.S. District Court Judge Adam B. Abelson sided with the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education in a 68-page ruling, issuing a temporary injunction and agreeing that plaintiffs would likely succeed in their argument that the orders were both 'unconstitutionally vague' and 'chilling [toward] free speech.' The ruling blocks the Trump administration from axing contracts related to equity initiatives and from requiring contractors to ditch internal DEI plans. The pair of executive orders from Trump's first hours in office, aimed at rolling back federal DEI goals and purging them from the private sector, fulfilled a central promise made on the campaign trail and inside Project 2025. But the orders created a complicated path forward for private companies holding federal contracts, which might have forced them to roll back internal initiatives or language the Trump administration deems objectionable with little guidance. The Biden appointee noted the executive orders 'do not define any of the operative terms, such as 'DEI,' 'equity-related,' 'promoting DEI,' 'illegal DEI,' 'illegal DEI and DEIA policies,' or 'illegal discrimination or preferences,' – let alone identify the types of programs or policies the administration considers 'illegal.'' He further ruled that the vague orders 'leaves … contractors and their employees … with no idea whether the administration will deem their contracts or grants, or work they are doing, or speech they are engaged in, to be 'equity-related.'' The directives join a heap of Trump executive orders to face legal intervention so far: last month, a judge shot down a memo to end birthright citizenship, calling it 'blatantly unconstitutional.' Trump and Elon Musk's DOGE initiatives have also suffered numerous blows in court, though a judge last week declined to fully restrain the government-slashing body.
Yahoo
22-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Judge blocks parts of Trump executive orders targeting DEI, citing free speech
A federal judge on Friday granted a preliminary injunction over parts of the Trump administration's executive orders on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). The injunction largely blocks the sections of President Donald Trump's orders that seek to end federal support for programs deemed to be DEI-related, and prevents the Trump administration from canceling contracts that they believe promote diversity, equity or inclusion. U.S. District Judge Adam Abelson in Baltimore, a Biden nominee, ruled that parts of the executive orders likely violate the Constitution and free speech. "The harm arises from the issuance of it as a public, vague, threatening executive order," Abelson said in a hearing this week, adding that it would discourage businesses working with the government from openly supporting DEI. Federal Judge Temporarily Stops Trump Admin From Firing 11 Intelligence Officers Assigned To Dei Programs The ruling comes after the city of Baltimore, the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education, the American Association of University Professors and the Restaurant Opportunities Centers United – which represents restaurant workers – sued the Trump administration over the executive orders, calling them presidential overreach and anti-free speech. Read On The Fox News App "Ordinary citizens bear the brunt," attorneys for the plaintiffs wrote in the complaint. "Plaintiffs and their members receive federal funds to support educators, academics, students, workers, and communities across the country. As federal agencies make arbitrary decisions about whether grants are 'equity-related,' Plaintiffs are left in limbo." They argued that Trump was encroaching on Congress' powers in order to champion his personal beliefs. "But the President simply does not wield that power," they wrote in the complaint. "And contrary to his suggestions otherwise, his power is not limitless." Trump Scores Big Legal Win Against Pulitzer Prize Board Members As Lawsuit Moves To Discovery Trump signed an order on his first day in office directing federal agencies to terminate all "equity-related" grants or contracts. He signed a follow-up order requiring federal contractors to certify that they don't promote DEI. The Trump administration argued in a Wednesday hearing that the president was only banning DEI programs that violate federal civil rights laws. "What's happening is an overcorrection and pulling back on DEI statements," attorney Aleshadye Getachew said in a hearing. A second federal lawsuit was also filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on Wednesday targeting Trump's DEI executive orders. The new complaint was filed by the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and Lambda Legal on behalf of nonprofit advocacy organizations. The lawsuit is aimed at Trump's executive orders: "Ending Radical and Wasteful DEI Programs and Preferencing," "Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government," and "Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity." White House spokesman Harrison Fields said both lawsuits represented "nothing more than an extension of the left's resistance," adding in a statement to the New York Times that the administration was "ready to face them in court." "Radical leftists can either choose to swim against the tide and reject the overwhelming will of the people, or they can get on board and work with President Trump to advance his wildly popular agenda," Fields said. Fox News' Danielle Wallace and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Original article source: Judge blocks parts of Trump executive orders targeting DEI, citing free speech
Fox News
22-02-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Judge blocks parts of Trump DEI executive orders, citing free speech
A federal judge on Friday granted a preliminary injunction over parts of the Trump administration's executive orders on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). The injunction largely blocks the sections of President Donald Trump's orders that seek to end federal support for programs deemed to be DEI-related, and prevents the Trump administration from canceling contracts that they believe promote diversity, equity or inclusion. U.S. District Judge Adam Abelson in Baltimore, a Biden nominee, ruled that parts of the executive orders likely violate the Constitution and free speech. "The harm arises from the issuance of it as a public, vague, threatening executive order," Abelson said in a hearing this week, adding that it would discourage businesses working with the government from openly supporting DEI. The ruling comes after the city of Baltimore, the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education, the American Association of University Professors and the Restaurant Opportunities Centers United – which represents restaurant workers – sued the Trump administration over the executive orders, calling them presidential overreach and anti-free speech. "Ordinary citizens bear the brunt," attorneys for the plaintiffs wrote in the complaint. "Plaintiffs and their members receive federal funds to support educators, academics, students, workers, and communities across the country. As federal agencies make arbitrary decisions about whether grants are 'equity-related,' Plaintiffs are left in limbo." They argued that Trump was encroaching on Congress' powers in order to champion his personal beliefs. "But the President simply does not wield that power," they wrote in the complaint. "And contrary to his suggestions otherwise, his power is not limitless." Trump signed an order on his first day in office directing federal agencies to terminate all "equity-related" grants or contracts. He signed a follow-up order requiring federal contractors to certify that they don't promote DEI. The Trump administration argued in a Wednesday hearing that the president was only banning DEI programs that violate federal civil rights laws. "What's happening is an overcorrection and pulling back on DEI statements," attorney Aleshadye Getachew said in a hearing. A second federal lawsuit was also filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on Wednesday targeting Trump's DEI executive orders. The new complaint was filed by the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and Lambda Legal on behalf of nonprofit advocacy organizations. The lawsuit is aimed at Trump's executive orders: "Ending Radical and Wasteful DEI Programs and Preferencing," "Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government," and "Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity." White House spokesman Harrison Fields said both lawsuits represented "nothing more than an extension of the left's resistance," adding in a statement to the New York Times that the administration was "ready to face them in court." "Radical leftists can either choose to swim against the tide and reject the overwhelming will of the people, or they can get on board and work with President Trump to advance his wildly popular agenda," Fields said.
