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A group of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) workers and civil rights organizations are suing to stop a series of President Donald Trump’s executive orders intended to restore merit back to American institutions.
Earlier this month, a coalition of higher education officials, restaurant workers, and the City of Baltimore filed a federal lawsuit challenging what Democracy Forward lawyers described as Trump’s “crusade to erase” DEI and accessibility from the U.S.
Plaintiff and Justice Department attorneys were in Maryland federal court regarding the complaint on Wednesday, the same day a second federal lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia targeting Trump’s DEI executive orders. The new complaint was filed by the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and Lambda Legal on behalf of non-profit advocacy organizations.
In what has become a familiar refrain over the past three weeks, the plaintiffs in the Maryland case, represented by Democracy Forward are seeking injunctive relief. Specifically, they want U.S. District Judge Adam Abelson to issue a temporary restraining order or a preliminary injunction, pausing any action connected to Trump’s Executive Order, “Ending Radical Government DEI Programs.”
FEDERAL JUDGE TEMPORARILY STOPS TRUMP ADMIN FROM FIRING 11 INTELLIGENCE OFFICERS ASSIGNED TO DEI PROGRAMS
President Donald Trump talks to reporters from the Resolute Desk after signing an executive order on Jan. 30, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
The plaintiffs claim they are not challenging the president’s ability to set policy priorities, rather the constitutional limits on the president’s power. Tey further claim the executive order violates the Constitution and that terminating programs which are statutorily mandated is unlawful. After Wednesday’s hearing, Abelson took no action to pause the Trump DEI executive orders, at least for now.
Abelson questioned Justice Department lawyer Pardis Gheibi, who…
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