Federal agencies under President Donald Trump’s administration are allegedly disregarding a court order that halted the enforcement of an executive order targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, according to groups challenging the policy in court.
In a recent legal filing, advocacy organizations and the city of Baltimore claimed that government officials continue pressuring contractors to adopt anti-DEI language in agreements—despite a judge’s directive last month that temporarily blocked the policy.
The groups cited a report indicating that Trump administration officials are instructing staff to ignore the ruling and proceed with enforcement. They argue that this violates constitutional protections, including free speech rights.
Trump’s executive order seeks to dismantle DEI initiatives across federally contracted businesses, universities, and nonprofits, asserting that such programs promote discrimination rather than inclusion. The administration has also tasked federal agencies with identifying entities allegedly violating civil rights laws through DEI efforts.
A status hearing on the matter is scheduled for Friday, with tensions mounting over the administration’s refusal to comply with the court’s decision.
