Trump-Appointed Judge Overturns Federal Ban on Diversity Programs

Federal judges have recently struck down several Trump administration efforts to curtail diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and related policies in education and nonprofit sectors. In Illinois, a judge rejected the Trump administration's challenge to a law requiring nonprofits to report demographic data, citing lack of legal standing. Similarly, Mississippi's ban on DEI programs in public schools was blocked due to constitutional concerns about vagueness and viewpoint discrimination. A Maryland federal judge invalidated two Department of Education directives that threatened to withhold funding from educational institutions practicing DEI, ruling that the administration had bypassed proper procedures. These rulings represent significant judicial pushback against policies aimed at limiting DEI efforts, reinforcing protections for free speech and academic freedom. Meanwhile, a federal judge also blocked a Trump administration FTC investigation into Media Matters, protecting the group's free speech rights amid conservative allegations of bias.