The Trump administration is allegedly defying a court order that blocks a ban on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs for businesses and organizations contracting with the federal government. This claim was made by groups involved in a lawsuit against the ban in a filing submitted to court on Thursday.
The groups, which include the city of Baltimore, have informed U.S. District Judge Adam Abelson in Maryland that federal agencies are still threatening contractors with loss of funding if they refuse to sign contracts containing anti-DEI language. This continues despite Judge Abelson’s ruling last month, which stopped the enforcement of the policy while the lawsuit progresses.
According to a report from Rolling Stone on Wednesday, contractors have backed these claims, revealing that Trump administration officials are explicitly telling staff that Abelson’s order is “irrelevant” and instructing them to continue enforcing the anti-DEI policy.
Neither the White House nor the Department of Justice immediately responded to requests for comment on the matter.
In response, Judge Abelson, who was appointed by President Joe Biden, has scheduled a telephone status conference for 3:00 p.m. (7:00 p.m. GMT) on Friday to address the ongoing concerns.
The lawsuit was filed by several groups, including the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education, the American Association of University Professors, Restaurant Opportunities Centers United, and the city of Baltimore. These plaintiffs argue that the anti-DEI policy infringes upon their First Amendment rights, claiming it limits their freedom of speech.
In his executive order, former President Donald Trump argued that DEI programs are discriminatory and violate federal civil rights law. The order mandated federal agencies to eliminate diversity programs and prohibited federal contractors, including major U.S. companies, from implementing such programs. Trump also directed the Justice Department and other agencies to investigate businesses, schools, and nonprofits that may be unlawfully discriminating through DEI policies.
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