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ARTICLE · 30 APRIL 2025

Federal Judge Blocks Key DEI Executive Order Provisions

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On April 14, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois issued a preliminary injunction preventing the U.S. Department of Labor ("DOL") from enforcing a certification provision...

United StatesEmployment and HR
Guy Brenner
Guy Brenner
Shanice Z. Smith-Banks
Shanice Z. Smith-Banks
Godfre O. Blackman
Godfre O. Blackman
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On April 14, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois issued a preliminary injunction  preventing the U.S. Department of Labor ("DOL") from enforcing a certification provision and termination clause included in the executive orders titled Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity ("EO 14173") and Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing ("EO 14151").

The ruling prevents the DOL from enforcing the provision in EO 14173 requiring federal contractors and grantees to certify that they do not operate "illegal" DEI programs that violate any federal anti-discrimination laws. The ruling also enjoins the DOL from terminating a federal grant issued to the plaintiff based on language in EO 14151, which requires agencies to terminate all "equity-related" grants.

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