Federal judge blocks Trump’s anti-DEI executive orders

The judge’s gavel and scales as a symbol of the judiciary and justice.

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A federal judge blocked Donald Trump’s executive orders targeting diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

It’s another setback for the Trump administration’s attempt to undo the fabric of America.

Christopher Wiggins

Christopher Wiggins is The Advocate’s senior national reporter in Washington, D.C., covering the intersection of public policy and politics with LGBTQ+ lives, including The White House, U.S. Congress, Supreme Court, and federal agencies. He has written multiple cover story profiles for The Advocate’s print magazine, profiling figures like Delaware Congresswoman Sarah McBride, longtime LGBTQ+ ally Vice President Kamala Harris, and ABC Good Morning America Weekend anchor Gio Benitez. Wiggins is committed to amplifying untold stories, especially as the second Trump administration’s policies impact LGBTQ+ (and particularly transgender) rights, and can be reached at christopher.wiggins@equalpride.com or on BlueSky at cwnewser.bsky.social; whistleblowers can securely contact him on Signal at cwdc.98.

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Christopher Wiggins

February 21 2025 8:47 PM EST

February 23 2025 12:23 PM EST

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A federal judge in Maryland has issued a preliminary injunction blocking key provisions of President Donald Trump’s recent executive orders to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, ruling that they likely violate constitutional protections.

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On Friday evening, U.S. District Judge Adam B. Abelson found that the orders, which direct federal agencies to terminate equity-related grants and contracts and require contractors to certify compliance with anti-discrimination laws, impose vague and potentially unlawful restrictions on federally funded programs.

Related: Trump’s Project 2025 White House orders mass firings of DEI employees across federal government

The ruling is a significant setback for the Trump administration’s broader efforts to roll back DEI programs across the federal government, higher education, and the private sector. The lawsuit, brought by national education associations and the city of Baltimore, argues that the executive orders exceed presidential authority and infringe upon First and Fifth Amendment rights.

The court’s decision halts enforcement of provisions that sought to eliminate equity-based initiatives in federally funded projects, with Abelson writing in his ruling, ‘The challenged provisions are impermissibly vague and threaten to chill constitutionally protected speech and activity.’ noting that the administration failed to define key terms such as “equity-related” and “illegal DEI.”

The ruling highlights how these provisions create an environment of fear and uncertainty for contractors, businesses, and academic institutions that rely on federal funding. The Trump administration has defended the orders as necessary to root out what it calls “illegal discrimination,” but civil rights organizations and legal experts argue that the measures are unconstitutional overreach.