A federal judge in Illinois has issued a preliminary injunction preventing the U.S. Department of Labor from enforcing a certification requirement that government contractors and grant recipients must not have diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs conflicting with anti-discrimination laws. The ruling came in response to a lawsuit by Chicago Women in Trades, a nonprofit supporting women in skilled construction trades. This certification provision is part of President Trump’s executive orders to restrict DEI programs, with potential severe penalties for violators under the False Claims Act. The lawsuit argues that the orders violate First Amendment rights and are too vague for compliance.
Judge Kennelly, who previously issued a temporary restraining order, now predicts Chicago Women in Trades will likely succeed in challenging the executive orders due to the unclear definition of “illegal DEI programs.” While this injunction is limited to the Labor Department, it highlights broader legal battles against Trump’s anti-DEI directives. Despite the Justice Department’s defense of the orders, the court’s decision protects a grant for Chicago Women in Trades under the Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations initiative, citing constitutional separation of powers.
This development reflects ongoing legal conflicts over Trump’s executive orders targeting DEI programs in government and private sectors, underscoring the complexities and controversies surrounding diversity initiatives in the current political landscape.
