On Friday, the Court of Appeals unblocked President Donald Trump's executive order and ended federal support for the Diversity, Equality and Inclusion (DEI) program.
According to the Associated Press, a panel of three judges found the order could be enacted during the pending lawsuit, and reported that it reversed a nationwide injunction from Baltimore's US District Judge Adam Abelson.
Two judges on the Fourth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the order “could raise concerns” about First Amendment rights, but found Abelson's “sweep block went too far.”
Since taking office, President Donald Trump has enacted drastic policies across the federal government to eradicate DEIs. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
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Biden's nominee Abelson was previously unconstitutional and “ambiguous” because he ruled that the order violated First Amendment rights to free speech and did not define Day.
The ruling follows a lawsuit filed by the City of Baltimore, the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education, the American Association of University Professors, and the Center for Restaurant Opportunities United.
They argued that the president's power is “not infinite.”
On January 4th, 2024, people march outside the office of hedge fund billionaire Bill Ackman in protest of a campaign against diversity, equity, inclusion and attacks against President Claudin Gay, former Harvard University president of New York City. (Reuters/Shannon Stapleton)
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Trump's order directed federal agencies to terminate all “stock-related” grants or contracts, and required federal contractors to prove they would not promote DEI.
The administration argued in court that the ban only affected DEI programs that violated federal civil rights laws.
“What's going on is to pull back the overcorrection and DEI statement,” Attorney Aleshadye Getachew said at the hearing.
Nathaniel Dibble, a member of the American Young Democrat Socialist at North Carolina State University, opposes the abolition of North Carolina's public university system diversity policy before a UNC board vote outside the UNC Systems office in Raleigh, North Carolina on May 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Makiya Seminera)
The president secured victory with his latest injunction, but a similar federal lawsuit was filed in DCUS District Court on Wednesday, challenging DEI executive orders such as “end and prioritize radical and useless DEI programs.” “We defend women from gender ideological extremism and restore biological truth to the federal government.” “We end illegal discrimination and restore merit-based opportunities.”
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The second complaint was filed on behalf of a nonprofit advocacy organization by the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and Lambda Legal.
“Extreme Leftists can rival the tide and reject the overwhelming will of the people, or work with President Trump to advance the hugely popular agenda,” White House spokesman Harrison Fields told the New York Times.
Fox News Digital's Brie Stimson, Danielle Wallace and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
