Is your DEI Program at Risk for Federal Funding? On January 20th and 21st, Trump signed Executive Order #14151, “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing,” and Executive Order #14173, “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity.” Both executive orders have sent the public and private sector into a state of shock and uncertainty regarding the continuation of…
U.S. District Judge Adam Abelson granted a preliminary injunction blocking the Trump administration from withholding federal funding for DEI-related contracts and grants. The Judge stated the executive order likely violates free-speech rights and granted an injunction blocking the funding withdrawal as litigation continues. In a written opinion, Judge Abelson stated the executive orders are unconstitutionally vague, and that federal contractors…
Law360 reported on February 19th, that a Baltimore federal district judge on Wednesday requested a U.S. Department of Justice attorney to clarify what would constitute so-called, “illegal DEI” under Trump’s executive orders that attack DEI in the public and private sectors. The City of Baltimore and three nonprofit organizations filed suit earlier on February 3rd, claiming the unconstitutionally vague orders…
It is the clear that both executive orders as written, are attacking “illegal DEI” and “DEIA” programs, policies and practices that violate federal anti-discrimination and civil rights laws, not DEI programs that are “legal” and follow best practices to expand equal access, remove barriers to equal opportunity, and prevent discrimination. The executive orders cannot and do not prohibit legal DEI…
On January 20th and 21st, Trump signed Executive Order #14151, “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing,” and Executive Order #14173, “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity,” Both executive orders have sent the public and private sector into a state of shock and uncertainty regarding the continuation of DEI policies, practices, personnel, training and related programs. The…