A U.S. appeals court has allowed the temporary implementation of a ban on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs at federal agencies and businesses with government contracts as directed by President Donald Trump, which had been previously blocked by a judge. The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia found Trump’s directives to be likely constitutional, disagreeing with a previous ruling by a federal judge in Maryland. Despite this decision, two of the three judges on the panel expressed disagreement with the substance of Trump’s orders, stating that those implementing them may risk violating the U.S. Constitution. The lawsuit, filed by the city of Baltimore and three groups, will continue while the Trump administration appeals the decision. The White House and the Justice Department have not yet commented on the ruling. Trump’s orders are part of a larger effort to eliminate DEI initiatives, which critics argue are discriminatory, from the government and private sector. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit claim that Trump’s orders infringe on constitutionally protected free speech. The administration maintains that the orders are targeting unlawful discrimination and do not discourage speech. The plaintiffs have accused the administration of defying the previous court ruling by continuing to condition some federal contracts on recipients agreeing not to implement DEI programs. U.S. District Judge Adam Abelson held a hearing on the matter but did not issue a further ruling at this time.
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