Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
This message was self-deleted by its author
This message was self-deleted by its author (LetMyPeopleVote) on Sat Feb 22, 2025, 01:19 AM. When the original post in a discussion thread is self-deleted, the entire discussion thread is automatically locked so new replies cannot be posted.
2 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
The attacks on DEI are stupid. Being a white bigot is not a protected class
https://bsky.app/profile/shirgirl.bsky.social/post/3liq4zbg3y22f
Link to tweet
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/21/federal-judge-ruling-blocks-trump-administration-dei-funding-00205585
A federal judge blocked President Donald Trump’s bid to deprive federal funding from programs that incorporate “diversity, equity and inclusion” initiatives.
U.S. District Judge Adam Abelson ruled that Trump’s policy likely violates the First Amendment because it penalizes private organizations based on their viewpoints. And the judge said the policy is written so vaguely that it chills the free speech of federal contractors concerned they will be punished if they don’t eliminate programs meant to encourage a diverse workforce.
Abelson, a Baltimore-based appointee of President Joe Biden, said longstanding court precedent bars the federal government from “leveraging its funding to restrict federal contractors and grantees from otherwise exercising their First Amendment rights.”
The ruling is the latest blow to Trump’s early policy and personnel moves meant to impose a sweeping overhaul of the federal government and its funding priorities. Within minutes of Abelson’s order, another federal judge barred Elon Musk’s “Department of Government Efficiency” and other political appointees from accessing sensitive U.S. Treasury databases, warning that they posed a serious risk of breaches. And minutes before that, the Supreme Court maintained a short-term block on Trump’s ability to fire a powerful ethics watchdog.
Several other Trump policies remain on hold as a result of court rulings, including his effort to slash funds marked for National Institutes of Health research and his bid to abruptly curtail contracts for foreign assistance programs. Trump did score one major legal win Friday, however; a Washington, D.C. federal judge allowed Trump to move forward with a plan to dismantle the workforce at the U.S. Agency for International Development.
U.S. District Judge Adam Abelson ruled that Trump’s policy likely violates the First Amendment because it penalizes private organizations based on their viewpoints. And the judge said the policy is written so vaguely that it chills the free speech of federal contractors concerned they will be punished if they don’t eliminate programs meant to encourage a diverse workforce.
Abelson, a Baltimore-based appointee of President Joe Biden, said longstanding court precedent bars the federal government from “leveraging its funding to restrict federal contractors and grantees from otherwise exercising their First Amendment rights.”
The ruling is the latest blow to Trump’s early policy and personnel moves meant to impose a sweeping overhaul of the federal government and its funding priorities. Within minutes of Abelson’s order, another federal judge barred Elon Musk’s “Department of Government Efficiency” and other political appointees from accessing sensitive U.S. Treasury databases, warning that they posed a serious risk of breaches. And minutes before that, the Supreme Court maintained a short-term block on Trump’s ability to fire a powerful ethics watchdog.
Several other Trump policies remain on hold as a result of court rulings, including his effort to slash funds marked for National Institutes of Health research and his bid to abruptly curtail contracts for foreign assistance programs. Trump did score one major legal win Friday, however; a Washington, D.C. federal judge allowed Trump to move forward with a plan to dismantle the workforce at the U.S. Agency for International Development.
