A federal judge on March 27 temporarily blocked the U.S. Labor Department from enforcing parts of President Donald Trump’s executive orders aimed at curbing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs among federal contractors and grant recipients.
In an order handed down by Judge Matthew Kennelly of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, the department was banned for two weeks from requiring all grantees to certify that they do not operate such programs in violation of Trump’s executive orders.
In the meantime, the judge said he would consider a longer-lasting injunction against the measure.
Trump has signed multiple executive orders since January, including order 14151, which directs federal agencies to terminate all DEI-related programs, as well as “equity-related” grants and contracts, and 14173, which states that federal grant recipients must certify that they do not operate programs that promote DEI initiatives….