Federal judge temporarily blocks Trump’s executive orders on DEI – The Washington Post

Judge temporarily blocks key parts of Trump’s executive orders targeting DEI

The plaintiffs argued that the president’s edicts against diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives exceeded his authority and violate their constitutional right to due process.

Updated, February 21, 2025 at 8:54 p.m. EST, today at 8:54 p.m. EST 5 min
By Julian Mark

A federal judge in Maryland temporarily blocked key portions of President Donald Trump’s executive orders targeting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in the federal government and corporate America.

U.S. District Judge Adam B. Abelson granted a preliminary injunction on Friday that bars portions of Trump’s orders to cancel federal contracts with DEI components and require government contractors to certify that they do not engage in DEI practices that violate antidiscrimination laws. The order also prohibits enforcement against publicly traded companies and large universities with comparable policies.

In reference to enforcement against companies and universities, Abelson noted that the plaintiffs were “likely” to succeed on their claim that such actions would violate constitutionally protected free speech. “That is textbook viewpoint-based discrimination,” Abelson wrote. “The government’s threat of enforcement is not just targeted towards enforcement of federal law. Rather, the provision expressly targets, and threatens, the expression of views supportive of equity, diversity and inclusion.”

Source Links: Federal judge temporarily blocks Trump’s executive orders on DEI – The Washington Post