Injunction lifted on Trump executive orders slashing federal DEI support

A federal appeals court on Friday overturned a previous injunction that had halted President Donald Trump’s orders eliminating federal support for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

The three-judge panel ruled that the executive orders could take effect while litigation continues, reversing U.S. District Judge Adam Abelson’s nationwide block, according to the Associated Press.

Two judges from the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals acknowledged potential First Amendment concerns but concluded that Abelson’s broad injunction was excessive.

Abelson, appointed by President Biden, had determined that the orders infringed on free speech rights and were overly vague due to their failure to define DEI.

The lawsuit against Trump’s orders was initiated by 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. The plaintiffs argued that the directives represented presidential overreach and restricted free expression, emphasizing that a president’s authority has limits.

Trump’s executive orders required federal agencies to terminate all funding for “equity-related” initiatives and mandated that government contractors confirm they do not support DEI programs.

In defense, the administration contended that the orders only applied to DEI programs that violated federal civil rights laws.

“What we’re seeing is a rollback of DEI policies and statements,” said attorney Aleshadye Getachew during a court hearing.

Despite the appeals court ruling in Trump’s favor, a separate lawsuit challenging the DEI executive orders was filed in the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. The case targets orders such as “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.”

This new lawsuit was brought by the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and Lambda Legal on behalf of advocacy organizations.

White House spokesperson Harrison Fields told the New York Times that “radical leftists can either resist the overwhelming will of the American people or align with President Trump’s vision to push forward his widely supported agenda.”

This article was reported by journalist Angelia.