An appeals court on Friday lifted a block on executive orders aimed at ending government support for diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, marking a win for the Trump administration after a series of setbacks in defending its agenda against numerous lawsuits. A three-judge panel ruled that the orders can be enforced while litigation continues, effectively nullifying a nationwide injunction issued by U.S. District Judge Adam Abelson in Baltimore, a Joe Biden appointee.
Two judges on the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals noted that the anti-DEI orders might raise First Amendment concerns, but argued that Abelson’s sweeping block was excessive. Abelson had ruled that the orders violated free-speech rights and were unconstitutionally vague.
Last month, a solid double-digit majority of Americans sided with President Donald Trump’s efforts to rid the federal government and institutions that receive federal funding of divisive DEI — Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion — policies that put skin color and race before merit and accomplishment. “By a double-digit margin, more voters approve than disapprove of President Donald Trump’s move to end diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies in the federal government,” Rasmussen Reports said on Thursday, citing its survey.
“The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 53% of Likely U.S. Voters approve of ending government DEI programs, including 39% who Strongly Approve. Forty-two percent (42%) disapprove, including 29% who Strongly Disapprove of ending DEI policies in the federal government,” the pollster added.
Earlier in the month month, Vice President J.D. Vance commented on his political future as he discussed what he and Trump believe contributed to the deadly mid-air collision over Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in an exclusive interview on Fox News Channel’s Sunday Morning Futures. “There is a very direct connection between the policies of the last administration and short-staffed air traffic controllers. That has to stop,” Vance told Bartiromo.
The host also asked Vance about Trump’s mention of progressive DEI policies in connection with the crash between an American Airlines flight and an Army Black Hawk helicopter that crossed its flight path on Wednesday night.
In a press conference concerning the crash, Trump specifically mentioned the previous administration’s DEI standards implemented government-wide but also at the Federal Aviation Administration as potentially contributing to the crash, stating, “We have to have our smartest people. It doesn’t matter what they look like, how they speak, who they are. What matters is intellect, talent. The word ‘talent.’ They have to be talented geniuses. We can’t have regular people doing that job. They won’t be able to do it.”
