An appeals court on Friday said President Donald Trump can continue to slash diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs from the federal government as a lawsuit plays out.
The decision, rendered by a panel of three judges on the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, reverses a nationwide injunction from United States District Judge Adam Abelson, who was appointed by former President Joe Biden.
Two of the three judges said Abelson’s “sweeping block went too far,” though they said Trump’s DEI-related orders could raise First Amendment concerns, Fox News reported.
Shortly after taking office, Trump signed an executive order titled “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEl Programs and Preferencing and Initial Rescissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions.” The Office of Personnel Management then began implementing the order with a memo instructing agency heads to…