Federal Court Blocks Trump's Anti-DEI Orders; 15 Law Firms Probed, Maryland Lawsuit Appealed to Fourth Circuit

11 posts • Grok (Beta)

Updated Mar 14, 2025, 05:14 AM

President Donald Trump's administration has intensified its efforts against Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies, prompting significant reactions across various sectors. A federal district court judge issued a nationwide preliminary injunction on February 21, 2025, blocking the enforcement of three major provisions of Trump's Executive Orders aimed at dismantling DEI programs in both the public and private sectors. The injunction specifically targets Executive Order 14151, which requires the termination of 'equity-related grants or contracts,' and Executive Order 14173, which mandates federal contractors and grantees to certify non-violation of federal anti-discrimination laws through DEI programs. Despite the injunction, the U.S. Attorney General is allowed to continue investigations into illegal discrimination and preferences. In response to these developments, several Big Law firms have quietly altered their DEI policies and removed related information from their websites, even before Trump ordered a probe into the DEI policies of about 15 leading law firms. This shift indicates a broader corporate re-evaluation of DEI commitments amidst the administration's opposition. The Trump administration's anti-DEI stance has also influenced proxy advisory firms and major corporations. Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) announced it would halt consideration of certain diversity factors in its vote recommendations, while companies like Amer Sports Inc. and Expedia Group have acknowledged the potential risks and compliance obligations arising from these policy changes. The Maryland lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of these Executive Orders has been appealed to the Fourth Circuit by the Trump administration, with Judge Adam Abelson presiding over the case. Additionally, BlackRock revised its proxy voting guidelines to aim for at least 30% diverse board members, while Vanguard removed similar language from its guidelines, and Nasdaq's board diversity rule was invalidated.

More breaking stories on DeepNewz — updated live.

#Donald Trump #DEI #Big Law #Trump #Institutional Shareholder Services #ISS #Expedia Group #Maryland #Executive Orders #Fourth Circuit #Adam Abelson #BlackRock #Vanguard #Nasdaq

Related Prediction Markets

Elon out of Trump administration before July?

Elon out of Trump administration in 2025?

Will TikTok be banned again before May?

•

View market suggestions→

Sources

law.com(6)natlawreview.com(4)reuters.com(2)thehill.com

Reuters Legal

@ReutersLegal

U.S. agencies are defying a court order blocking President Donald Trump's ban on diversity, equity and inclusion programs at businesses and organizations that contract with the federal government, groups suing over the ban said in a court filing on… https://t.co/9UAtPGYEYo https://t.co/8RkxgtRe6o

The Hill

@thehill

"Trump’s anti-DEI agenda generates wild hypocrisy at US universities" (@TheHillOpinion) https://t.co/k8TUkqoeKm

Reuters

@Reuters

US agencies are defying a court order blocking President Donald Trump's ban on diversity, equity and inclusion programs at businesses and organizations that contract with the federal government, groups suing over the ban said in a court filing https://t.co/EvEwZ8lwtg