DV-Lottery Threatened as Advocacy Groups Sue Trump Over Executive Orders Targeting Diversity Programs
The city of Maryland, alongside three advocacy groups, has filed a lawsuit against U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration, challenging a pair of executive orders aimed at dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The lawsuit, filed on Monday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, seeks to halt the orders and declare them unconstitutional.
The executive orders, issued during Trump’s first two days in office, threaten economic sanctions and dismissals while attempting to eliminate federal government support for DEI practices. The lawsuit argues that these orders exceed the president’s constitutional authority and calls for both preliminary and permanent injunctions to block their implementation.
The plaintiffs in the case include the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education, the American Association of University Professors, the Restaurant Opportunities Centers United, and the mayor and city council of Baltimore. The lawsuit names President Trump, nine government departments, their respective cabinet officers, the National Science Foundation, and the Office of Management and Budget as defendants.
“In the United States, there is no king,” the lawsuit states, emphasizing that the president cannot unilaterally override Congress’s authority or silence dissent by threatening the withdrawal of federal funds.
The White House directed inquiries to the Justice Department, which has yet to respond to requests for comment.
During his campaign, Trump vowed to end programs designed to assist women, ethnic minorities, and LGBTQ individuals in securing government jobs and contracts, claiming such initiatives unfairly disadvantage more qualified candidates. However, civil rights and equality advocates argue that these programs are essential to addressing historical and ongoing discrimination. Women and African Americans, for example, did not achieve legal equality in the U.S. until the 20th century and continue to face disparities in pay and opportunities compared to their white male counterparts.
The lawsuit asserts, “In his crusade to erase diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility from our country, President Trump cannot usurp Congress’s exclusive power of the purse, nor can he silence those who disagree with him by threatening them with the loss of federal funds and other enforcement action.”
One of the executive orders, issued on January 20, rescinded diversity policies implemented under the Biden administration and called for the widespread dismissal of federal employees involved in DEI initiatives. The order directed agencies to “terminate, to the maximum extent allowed by law, all DEI, DEIA, and ‘environmental justice’ offices and positions.”
A second order, issued on January 21, targeted publicly traded companies, large non-profits, foundations, state and local bar and medical associations, and university endowments, aiming to discourage them from participating in diversity programs.
The lawsuit represents a significant pushback against the Trump administration’s efforts to roll back DEI initiatives, with plaintiffs arguing that such programs are vital to fostering fairness and equality in a historically unequal society.
As the legal battle unfolds, the outcome could have far-reaching implications for diversity and inclusion efforts across the United States.
Source: Adapted from Reuters
The post DV-Lottery Threatened as Advocacy Groups Sue Trump Over Executive Orders Targeting Diversity Programs appeared first on Accra Mail.
DV-Lottery Threatened as Advocacy Groups Sue Trump Over Executive Orders Targeting Diversity Programs
