Federal Court Upholds Trump’s Order on DEI Efforts

A federal appeals court has decided that President Trump’s executive order, which aims to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs among government agencies and contractors, can move forward.

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, based in Richmond, Virginia, ruled unanimously that Judge Adam B. Abelson from Maryland was mistaken in implementing a preliminary injunction against the order.

Chief Justice Albert Diaz, along with Justices Pamela A. Harris and Alison Jones Rushing, concluded that Trump had the authority to instruct his officials to set policy priorities and make funding choices accordingly.

Diaz, appointed by President Barack Obama, noted in the ruling, “President Trump has decided that equity isn’t a priority for his administration, instructing his subordinates to cease funding equity-related initiatives as much as the law allows.”

Diaz clarified: “We don’t question whether this policy is wise; we just need to determine if it’s unconstitutionally vague for funders.”

Originally, Abelson issued a nationwide injunction, but that was retracted in March 2025, leading to a temporary injunction that has now been invalidated.

Several parties, including the Baltimore Mayor and City Council, the American Association of University Professors, and the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education, have challenged the Trump administration, claiming the order contravenes the First and Fifth Amendments.

On the other hand, Justice Department representatives argued that DEI initiatives breach federal civil rights legislation.

Trump’s first executive order related to DEI was among several he signed on his first day in office, mandating federal authorities to minimize “equity-related” funding and contracts.

Later, he issued another order requiring federal contractors to affirm that they are not endorsing DEI initiatives.

In a short concurring statement, Diaz advised those upset by the ruling to maintain faith and rely on the Constitution, which he described as a guiding light.

In an interesting footnote, the Obama-appointed judge criticized Secretary of State Marco Rubio for boasting about banning the Calibri font in official documents. Diaz remarked, “The administration’s fixation on so-called ‘woke’ DEI programs appears boundless,” while expressing no fundamental disagreement with a move back to Times New Roman.

He elaborated that Rubio’s push for font change was, perhaps, justifiable for two reasons: it presented a more polished look for foreign exchange documents, and Calibri did not notably enhance accessibility for readers. “Had the Chief Justice stopped there, I would have commended him, especially since this court supports his font preference,” Diaz expressed. But he noted Rubio couldn’t resist criticizing his predecessor for enforcing what he deemed a “useless diversity initiative” before renouncing Calibri.