Baltimore sues Trump administration over purge of DEI programsBaltimore sues Trump administration over purge of DEI programs

The city of Baltimore is suing the Trump administration over executive orders designed to slash diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives—including federal funding for programs with connections to DEI.

Since the Trump administration took over Jan. 20, it has released a flurry of executive orders, two of them focused on eliminating DEI and DEIA (diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility) initiatives. On Feb. 3, Baltimore, along with several other organizations, filed a lawsuit to block the executive orders, arguing they overstep the president’s authority by seeking to halt federal funds approved by Congress. The lawsuit claims the orders impose a condition on receipt of federal funds and attempt to suppress free speech regarding DEI principles.

“President Trump cannot usurp Congress’s exclusive power of the purse, nor can he silence those who disagree with him by threatening them with the loss of federal funds and other enforcement actions,” the lawsuit states.

In his Jan. 20 executive order, President Trump ordered the termination of “all ‘equity-related’ grants or contracts.” The following Jan. 21 executive order stated that DEI initiatives “can violate the civil-rights laws” of the nation, and mandated that executive departments and agencies terminate DEI programs, activities, regulations and guidance, as well as deter them in the private sector.

Baltimore’s lawsuit argues that the “DEI” initiatives mentioned in the orders are not clearly defined, and that the federal funding in question supports educators, academics, students, workers and communities.

“As federal agencies make arbitrary decisions about whether grants are ‘equity-related,’ plaintiffs are left in limbo,” the lawsuit states. “Some have received notifications to cease all work on federally funded programs with connections to DEIA.” 

The city of Baltimore has Minority Business Enterprise and Women Business Enterprise goals attached to most of its contracts and risks federal funding being blocked if the city pursues any DEI initiatives, regardless of whether the federal funding is for DEI programs. 

“Baltimore citizens risk losing vital federal funding due to this executive order, putting jobs and livelihoods at stake,” Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott stated, “and we will fight it with every legal tool available to us, just as we are doing with this lawsuit.”

Baltimore is joined in the lawsuit by the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education, the American Association of University Professors and Restaurant Opportunities Centers United. The plaintiffs are being represented by Democracy Forward and Asian Americans Advancing Justice. 

The full complaint can be found at this link.