In the United States, a federal judge temporarily blocked the Department of Labor’s request for subcontractors and grant recipients to provide reports on the “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI) programs, as per President Donald Trump’s executive order against them.

Judge Matthew Kennelly of the Northern District Court of Illinois announced his decision in a lawsuit filed by the civil society organization Chicago Women in Trades assisting women in skilled trades against the Trump administration. The organization, which had contracts with the Department of Labor, argued that compliance with the request for a DEI report was not possible due to the “ambiguity” of Trump’s executive order. Kennelly stated that the Trump administration “adamantly refused” to clarify what it means by requesting reports only on “illegal” DEI programs, thus temporarily halting the Labor Department’s requests for DEI reports from subcontractors and grant recipients.

INVESTIGATION INTO STANFORD AND CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITIES According to a written statement from the Department of Justice, Secretary Pam Bondi announced that investigations have been launched into Stanford and California universities’ Berkeley, Los Angeles, and Irvine campuses regarding their DEI-related student admissions. Bondi emphasized the need to comply with the 2023 June Supreme Court decision banning student admissions based on DEI, stressing the importance of adhering to the ruling. Bondi highlighted her determination, along with Trump, to “end illegal discrimination and reinstitute merit-based opportunities in the country,” stating that “every student in the US deserves to be evaluated based on their hard work, intelligence, and character, not their skin color.”

WHAT IS THE DEI PROGRAM? The DEI program, conducted under the umbrella of “diversity, equity, and inclusion,” aimed to create a more “fair and equal” environment, especially in workplaces and schools. However, DEI has been criticized in recent years for becoming “politicized and imposing its ideology.” Following Trump’s inauguration on January 20, an executive order titled “Ending Government’s radical and wasteful DEI programs and privileges” was signed, initiating efforts to abolish the program. District Judge Adam Abelson of Maryland issued a preliminary injunction on February 22 against Trump’s executive order targeting DEI programs.