Former President Donald Trump has secured a pivotal legal victory in his efforts to scale back Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives across the federal government.
On Friday, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia, struck down a nationwide injunction that had previously blocked a key executive order aimed at restricting federally funded DEI programs. The injunction had been issued by U.S. District Judge Adam Abelson, a Biden appointee based in Baltimore.
The appellate court’s three-judge panel ruled that Trump’s directive—which also called on the Department of Justice to examine companies for their use of DEI-related policies—was likely to be within constitutional bounds. Still, two of the judges expressed personal disagreement with the order’s substance, warning that its enforcement might edge into unconstitutional territory.
Circuit Judge Albert Diaz wrote, “While DEI remains controversial in some circles, the efforts of those who promote inclusivity should be recognized, not rejected.” However, Judge Allison Rushing, appointed by Trump, stressed that such opinions should not influence the legal decision-making process. “Whether DEI deserves praise or not has no bearing on the court’s role in interpreting the law,” she stated.
This development comes as part of a broader rollback of DEI initiatives under the Trump-aligned administration. Earlier this year, Attorney General Pam Bondi dismissed several lawsuits launched during the Biden administration that had challenged hiring practices within police and fire departments. These cases had alleged that merit-based hiring standards unfairly disadvantaged minority candidates.
According to Bondi’s office, these actions were driven by statistical disparities rather than evidence of intentional bias. The DOJ under the prior administration had labeled traditional assessments—such as written exams and physical tests—as discriminatory tools used to justify DEI enforcement.
“The objective should always be public safety, not diversity metrics,” Bondi stated. “Communities deserve first responders chosen for their qualifications—not to meet arbitrary diversity goals.”
One dismissed case involved the City of Durham, North Carolina, where Black applicants reportedly failed a written exam at a higher rate than White applicants. The lawsuit argued this led to fewer Black hires and called for back pay and hiring preferences for those affected—at a projected cost of nearly $1 million.
A similar complaint targeted the Maryland State Police, urging the agency to eliminate its existing entry requirements, which included a 70% minimum on written tests and a physical exam. The DOJ’s Civil Rights Division claimed the process resulted in a disproportionate failure rate among Black candidates and women, labeling it a violation of civil rights law.
Friday’s ruling effectively reopens the door for broader enforcement of Trump’s order, representing a shift in how DEI efforts may be handled in both federal and local institutions moving forward.
