Federal Court Temporarily Blocks Enforcement of President Trump’s Anti-Diversity Equity and Inclusion Executive Orders

On February 21, 2025, the federal district court for the District of Maryland blocked President Donald Trump from enforcing a majority of two January 2025 Executive Orders that seek to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion (“DEI”) initiatives in government agencies, educational institutions, and the private sector. The first Executive Order is entitled “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing.” The second Executive Order is entitled “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity.” The court held that the Executive Orders impermissibly target the expression of views supportive of equity, diversity and inclusion and violates the First and Fifth Amendments of the United States Constitution.