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ARTICLE · 01 MAY 2025

Court Permanently Blocks DOL From Enforcing DEI Certification Provisions

Ballard Spahr LLP
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In our previous post, we discussed the nationwide temporary restraining order issued by the United States District Court for the North District of Illinois that temporarily prevented the Department of Labor from requiring federal contractors to certify that they do not operate any diversity, equity, or inclusion programs.

United StatesEmployment and HR
Brian Pedrow
Brian Pedrow
Shirley S. Lou-Magnuson
Shirley S. Lou-Magnuson
Brenna McLaughlin
Brenna McLaughlin
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In our previous post, we discussed the nationwide temporary restraining order issued by the United States District Court for the North District of Illinois that temporarily prevented the Department of Labor from requiring federal contractors to certify that they do not operate any diversity, equity, or inclusion programs that violate the Trump Administration's recent Executive Orders ("Certification Provision").

On April 15, 2025, the Court extended its restrictions by partially granting the Chicago Women in Trades' (CWIT) motion for a nationwide preliminary injunction. For the time being, this means that the DOL is prohibited from requiring any federal contractor or grant recipient to comply with the Certification Provision. In its ruling, the Court reasoned that CWIT was likely to win on the merits of its First Amendment challenge as to the Certification Provision and that a nationwide injunction was necessary. "A nationwide injunction is appropriate to protect

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