After a string of legal setbacks for the Trump administration, a federal appeals court delivered a victory on Friday night, allowing enforcement of two executive orders aimed at eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs from the federal government.
A three-judge panel from the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Trump administration is likely to succeed in its appeal against a lower court decision that found the DEI-related executive orders unconstitutional. One order eliminates DEI initiatives within the federal government, while the other prohibits grant recipients from operating DEI programs.
The ruling permits the administration to implement the orders while the court continues to evaluate their constitutionality. Notably, two of the three judges on the panel were appointed by Democratic presidents.
In a concurring opinion, Judge Albert Diaz issued a cautionary note about the political discourse surrounding DEI, describing it as “a monster in America’s closet.” He argued that DEI advocates “deserve praise” for fostering inclusive environments in historically exclusive spaces.
“From boardrooms to courtrooms to operating rooms to classrooms, previously marginalized Americans are thriving in spaces long closed to them. And we are the better for it,” Diaz wrote. “As with most monsters in the closet, what lurks is but a mere shadow, for which the remedy is simply light.”
The decision marks a significant legal victory for the Trump administration, as the court weighs whether the executive orders violate constitutional protections.
