Key facts
- Judge Adam Abelson denied a motion to block Trump's executive order targeting DEI initiatives by federal contractors.
- The order bars "racially discriminatory DEI activities" by federal contractors and requires written certification of compliance.
- Businesses that do not comply could lose contracts and face investigations under the False Claims Act.
A US federal judge on Wednesday declined to block President Donald Trump's effort to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives by companies that do business with the US government. US District Judge Adam Abelson in Baltimore stated that groups representing university faculty and minority business owners failed to demonstrate that the March executive order was overly broad. Trump's order prohibits "racially discriminatory DEI activities" by federal contractors, requiring written certification of compliance, with non-compliant businesses facing potential loss of contracts and investigations. The judge denied the groups' motion to block the order while the lawsuit proceeds. A separate lawsuit challenging the order is also underway, filed by 19 Democratic-led states and Washington, DC.