Illinois Federal Judge Blocks DOL From Enforcing Termination, Certification Provisions in Trump DEI-Related EOs
On March 27, 2025, a federal judge for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois temporarily blocked the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) from enforcing portions of two provisions in President Donald Trump’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)-related executive orders (EO) . Quick Hits A federal judge in Illinois issued a temporary restraining order blocking the DOL from enforcing certain provisions in two executive orders aimed at eliminating “illegal” DEI programs. The judge found certain provisions are coercive and undefined, likely violating the First Amendment. The ruling comes amid multiple ongoing legal challenges related to DEI initiatives. U.S. District Judge Matthew F. Kennelly issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) prohibiting the DOL from enforcing a “termination provision” that requires federal agencies to terminate grants or contracts with organizations that promote DEI and a “certification provision” that requires grant recipients to certify unde...