A federal judge in Maryland has 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. The lawsuit, filed by a coalition of diversity officers, professors, and restaurant worker advocates, claims that the orders violate constitutionally protected free speech rights.
The judge ruled that the orders are “textbook viewpoint-based discrimination,” targeting the expression of views supportive of equity, diversity, and inclusion. The plaintiffs argue that the vagueness of the orders has left members with “untenable” choices: certifying that they won’t engage in prohibited DEI at the risk of getting slapped with penalties, or censoring themselves to avoid government scrutiny.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Trump had issued two executive orders aimed at ending “illegal discrimination” and restoring “merit to government service.” The orders directed agency heads to draw up lists of publicly traded companies, universities, and nonprofits to potentially investigate over certain DEI practices.
The battle over Trump’s orders takes place amid widespread upheaval surrounding DEI, which has played out in the courts, on social media, and inside the White House. Companies such as Google and Deloitte have ended certain diversity programs, while others continue to reassess their programs as the Trump administration threatens investigations.
Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/02/21/trump-dei-executive-order-blocked