{"id":2566167,"date":"2026-02-06T16:09:01","date_gmt":"2026-02-06T21:09:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/appeals-court-allows-trump-to-ban-dei-in-federal-government\/"},"modified":"2026-02-06T16:11:51","modified_gmt":"2026-02-06T21:11:51","slug":"appeals-court-allows-trump-to-ban-dei-in-federal-government","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/appeals-court-allows-trump-to-ban-dei-in-federal-government\/","title":{"rendered":"Appeals court allows Trump to ban DEI in federal government"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fappeals-court-allows-trump-to-ban-dei-in-federal-government%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2566167&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/title-42-may-end-as-soon-as-april\/\" title=\"Title 42 May End as Soon as April\">federal appeals court panel<\/a> in the Fourth Circuit rejected efforts by Baltimore and others to strike down President Trump\u2019s executive orders banning diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in the federal government and in related funding. The court lifted a lower court injunction that had blocked the orders, agreeing that the district court erred in finding violations of the First and Fifth Amendments. The majority opinion was authored by U.S. Circuit Judge Albert diaz.<\/p>\n<p>The decision frames the issue as weather the policy is unconstitutionally vague for funding recipients, rather than a blanket ruling on the legality of DEI programs themselves. Diaz stated that the President may set policy priorities and direct subordinates to adjust funding accordingly within the law. A concurring opinion emphasized that the ruling addressed a facial challenge to two Executive Orders about DEI programming,not the legality of any specific DEI program,and that some DEI initiatives may still fall within the law. The challengers\u2014Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, the city, the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education, and the American Association of University Professors\u2014could appeal to the full Fourth Circuit or the Supreme Court. The case is part of a broader push by the Trump management to curb DEI programs in government, and the article also notes related actions in other contexts.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Appeals court allows Trump to ban DEI in federal government<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2495897\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>A federal <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/appeals-courts\/\">appeals court<\/a> rejected an effort by the city of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/baltimore\/\">Baltimore<\/a> and others to strike down President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a>&lsquo;s executive orders banning diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in the federal government and among federal grants and contracts.<\/p>\n<p>The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/storage.courtlistener.com\/recap\/gov.uscourts.ca4.177868\/gov.uscourts.ca4.177868.106.0_1.pdf\">ruling<\/a> from the three-judge panel on the U.S Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit lifted a lower court&rsquo;s injunction blocking the orders, finding that the district court erred by finding the orders violated the First and Fifth Amendments. U.S Circuit Judge Albert Diaz, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, issued the majority ruling for the panel.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4448704\/judge-tosses-missouri-lawsuit-starbucks-dei-policies\/\">Federal judge tosses Missouri lawsuit over Starbucks DEI policies<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4448792\/gavin-newsom-tells-liz-murill-go-f-yourself-abortion-pill-prescription-lawsuit\/\">Newsom tells Louisiana attorney general &#8216;Go f*** yourself&#8217; over abortion pill prescription lawsuit<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4448720\/fbi-arrest-one-behind-benghazi-attack\/\">FBI arrests key participant behind Benghazi attack<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;The President may determine his policy priorities and instruct his agents to make funding decisions based on them,&rdquo; Diaz said in Friday&rsquo;s ruling. &ldquo;President Trump has decided that equity isn&rsquo;t a priority in his administration and so has directed his subordinates to terminate funding that supports equity-related projects to the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >maximum extent allowed<\/a> by law.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Whether that&rsquo;s sound policy or not isn&rsquo;t our call. We ask only whether the policy is unconstitutionally vague for funding recipients,&rdquo; the majority ruling continued.<\/p>\n<p>Diaz also said in an additional concurring opinion that Friday&rsquo;s ruling in the case was about &ldquo;a facial challenge to two Executive Orders concerning certain DEI programming, not the legality or termination of any particular DEI program,&rdquo; adding that he believes there are likely DEI programs and grants that fall within the law.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;For those disappointed by the outcome, I say this: Follow the law. Continue your critical work. Keep the faith. And depend on the Constitution, which remains a beacon amid the tumult,&rdquo; Diaz said in his concurring opinion.<\/p>\n<p>The executive orders were challenged by Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, the city of Baltimore, the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education, and the American Association of University Professors, aiming to curb the Trump administration&rsquo;s aggressive push against DEI programs.<\/p>\n<p>The coalition could appeal the ruling to the full bench of the Fourth Circuit or to the Supreme Court.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4448704\/judge-tosses-missouri-lawsuit-starbucks-dei-policies\/\">FEDERAL JUDGE TOSSES MISSOURI LAWSUIT OVER STARBUCKS DEI POLICIES<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Trump administration has aimed to eliminate DEI where it can, alleging the programs and policies amount to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-doj-warns-red-states-not-to-restrict-gender-affirming-care-for-trans-kids\/\" title=\"Biden DOJ Warns Red States Not To Restrict \u2018Gender-Affirming Care\u2019 for Trans Kids\">unlawful discrimination based<\/a> on race, gender, and other immutable characteristics. <\/p>\n<p>The administration has also attempted to end DEI programs in private companies, with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filing an order in federal court in recent days seeking to enforce a subpoena for Nike to hand over documents related to&nbsp;allegations it &ldquo;discriminated&nbsp;against white workers.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Court upholds Trump DEI ban in federal programs<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2638,"featured_media":2566168,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP25134704724999.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[69805,16574,72886,3634],"class_list":["post-2566167","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-appeals-court-2","tag-dei","tag-federal-government-2","tag-trump"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP25134704724999.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2566167","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2638"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2566167"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2566167\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2566171,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2566167\/revisions\/2566171"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2566168"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2566167"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2566167"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2566167"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}