A federal appeals court ruled Friday that President Donald Trump’s executive orders dismantling “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” (DEI) programs across the federal government can take effect, delivering a major legal win for the administration.
A unanimous three-judge panel on the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals found that a Maryland judge erred when he blocked Trump’s orders aimed at eliminating DEI initiatives among federal agencies and contractors.
Chief Judge Albert Diaz, Judge Pamela A. Harris, and Judge Allison Jones Rushing agreed that the president has broad authority to set policy priorities and direct how federal funds are spent.
Trump “may determine his policy priorities and instruct his agents to make funding decisions based on them,” the panel ruled in its decision.
Diaz, an Obama appointee, wrote that Trump has decided equity is not a priority for his administration and instructed subordinates to terminate funding tied to equity programs where legally permitted.
“Whether that’s sound policy or not isn’t our call,” Diaz wrote. “We ask only whether the policy is unconstitutionally vague for funding recipients.”
The ruling vacates a preliminary injunction issued by U.S. District Judge Adam B. Abelson, who had previously imposed a nationwide block on the orders.
That nationwide injunction was already struck down once in March 2025, but Abelson later issued a narrower order that is now fully overturned.
The lawsuit challenging Trump’s actions was brought by Baltimore’s mayor and city council, along with higher education and diversity advocacy groups.
Plaintiffs argued the executive orders violated the First and Fifth Amendments by targeting speech and imposing vague standards on funding recipients.
The Justice Department countered that DEI initiatives themselves conflict with federal civil rights laws and improperly prioritize identity-based criteria.
Trump signed the first anti-DEI executive order on Day One of his term as part of a flurry of actions reshaping federal policy, per the New York Post.
That order directed agencies to cut equity-related grants and contracts to the maximum extent allowed under the law.
The President later signed a second order requiring federal contractors to certify that they do not promote DEI initiatives.
The appeals court ruling allows both orders to move forward while litigation continues.
In a concurring opinion, Diaz acknowledged disappointment among critics of the ruling but urged them to rely on the Constitution.
He wrote that the Constitution “remains a beacon” even for those unhappy with the outcome.
Diaz also used a footnote to criticize Secretary of State Marco Rubio for publicly boasting about ending the use of Calibri font in official documents.
Diaz said the administration’s focus on eliminating what it considers “woke” programs appeared excessive, even though he did not object to the font change itself.
Rubio defended the switch to Times New Roman as more professional and said Calibri did not meaningfully improve accessibility.
Diaz noted the court itself prefers Times New Roman, but criticized Rubio for attacking his predecessor while announcing the change.
Despite the aside, the ruling represents a significant victory for Trump’s broader effort to dismantle DEI across the federal government.
The decision reinforces presidential authority over executive branch priorities and federal spending.
For Trump, the ruling clears a major legal hurdle and keeps one of his signature policy initiatives firmly in place.
