Breaking News: Federal Judge Halts Trump’s DEI Purge Agenda Due to Vague

A federal judge in Maryland has temporarily banned aspects of President Donald Trump’s executive orders aimed at promoting diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI) efforts, citing concerns about ambiguous language and potential infringement of free expression.

U.S. District Judge Adam B. Abelson granted a preliminary injunction on Friday, blocking efforts to revoke federal contracts containing DEI components and requiring contractors to attest that they do not engage in DEI practices, according to The Washington Post. The verdict also prevents the directives from being enforced against publicly traded firms and significant colleges that have comparable rules.

Trump’s executive orders, issued in the early days of his second term, aimed to dismantle DEI programs in federal agencies, private businesses and higher education. The lawsuit contends that these measures have already led to job losses and forced companies and universities to reconsider their diversity initiatives.

The plaintiffs—a coalition of diversity officers, professors and labor advocates who sued to block the orders—argued that Trump’s directives were overly broad and threatened constitutional rights to free speech and due process.

“The provision expressly targets, and threatens, the expression of views supportive of equity, diversity and inclusion,” Abelson stated in the ruling, calling the attempt “textbook viewpoint-based discrimination.

The Justice Department has defended the executive orders, claiming they follow federal law and that enforcement details will be revealed over time.

Trump’s administration has lambasted government personnel, including judges, for refusing to follow his directives. However, the White House has not yet responded to the verdict.