Maryland and three advocacy groups sued former President Donald Trump on Monday, challenging executive orders aimed at ending diversity programs. Filed in the U.S. District Court for Maryland, the lawsuit argues the orders exceed presidential authority and violate the Constitution.
The plaintiffs—the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education, the American Association of University Professors, the Restaurant Opportunities Centers United, and Baltimore’s city government—seek to block the orders permanently. “In the United States, there is no king,” the lawsuit states.
Trump’s orders, issued on Jan. 20 and 21, dismantle federal diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. The first order rescinded Biden-era diversity policies and called for the dismissal of federal employees in DEI roles. The second order targeted corporations, nonprofits, and professional associations, discouraging them from promoting DEI initiatives.
Trump campaigned on ending government diversity programs, arguing they disadvantage more qualified candidates. Civil rights groups counter that such initiatives address historical discrimination and ongoing inequities in pay and opportunity.
The lawsuit contends Trump cannot bypass Congress’s budget authority or silence dissent by threatening financial penalties. The White House referred inquiries to the Justice Department, which has not commented.
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