President Donald Trump’s administration issued an executive order last week to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs in universities nationwide, threatening to cut federal funding for institutions that continue such initiatives.
On Friday, Feb. 21, a federal judge temporarily blocked the administration’s attempt to terminate DEI-related grants, providing a temporary but critical halt to the administration’s efforts to cut DEI-related funding. This ruling does not block other provisions of the executive order.
This executive order issued on Feb. 18 is part of the administration’s broader push to eliminate race-conscious policies, following the dear colleague letter issued on Feb. 14, which reaffirmed the government’s commitment to enforcing the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
According to a memo released on Feb. 14 by the U.S. Department of Education, it delivered a clear ultimatum: educational institutions must immediately cease using “racial preferences” in admissions, financial aid, hiring or any other area where decisions are made.
According to the memo, universities across the nation have been given 14 days to comply with this directive and end any practice that treats students or employees differently based on their race.
The letter stated that “Discrimination on the basis of race, color or national origin is illegal and morally reprehensible.” It also criticized DEI programs for promoting racial preferences that “stigmatize students who belong to particular racial groups based on crude racial stereotypes.”
Days after the release of the executive order, a legal battle emerged between President Trump and the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education, according to Bloomberg Law.
The lawsuit was filed earlier this month by plaintiffs, including the city of Baltimore and higher education groups, who argued that the executive orders are unconstitutional and represent a blatant overreach of presidential authority. They also contended that the directives suppress free expression by creating an environment of fear and uncertainty.
U.S. District Judge Adam Abelson of Baltimore, who was appointed by former President Joe Biden, ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, temporarily blocking provisions in the administration’s executive order. These included a directive to “terminate all ‘equity-related’ grants or contracts” and a requirement for contractors and grantees to certify they do not promote or engage in DEI practices that violate federal anti-discrimination laws.
Abelson pointed out that the orders were vague and lacked clear definitions for terms like “DEI”, “equity-related” and “illegal discrimination or preferences,” making it difficult for them to understand whether their programs would fall under the administration’s restrictions.
In his ruling, he noted, “the Termination and Enforcement Threat Provisions are unconstitutionally vague on their face.”
Abelson found that these provisions threatened constitutional rights, particularly free speech.
He highlighted that the government’s attempt to “deter principles” with which it disagreed could be seen as “content discrimination,” violating the First Amendment.
This decision provides universities, students, faculty and federal contractors relief from the looming threat of losing federal funding.
In response to the executive orders, Lydia Sermons, vice president and chief communications officer at Howard, shared a media statement outlining the university’s approach to assessing the impact of the administration’s directives.
Sermons acknowledged the complexities of the situation, stating that Howard is a “large and complex institution” and that fully understanding the implications of the executive orders would require time, particularly given the “steady flux of changes” issued by the administration and federal court rulings.
She emphasized that the university is committed to supporting its students, faculty and staff through this possible transition, noting that Howard is actively “assessing how best to support” the university community in light of the new directives.
In the coming days and weeks, Howard plans to offer additional information to its campus community as it navigates the evolving landscape.
Despite the challenges posed by the orders, Sermons reiterated Howard’s commitment to academic excellence, stating that the university will remain “steadfast in advancing groundbreaking research and transformative programming” across various fields, including science, medicine, technology, industry and the humanities.
These efforts, she highlighted, are central to addressing both local and global challenges.
“The university will continue to uphold its mission of truth and service while fostering a collaborative environment that drives progress and empowers future generations of leaders,” Sermons said.
Copy edited by Aniyah Genama
