Yet another federal judge has blocked a portion of one of President Donald Trump’s executive orders, arguing that his directive to terminate government contracts with all diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs is a “coercive threat.”
Judge Matthew F. Kennelly of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois signed a memorandum opinion and order on Thursday in favor of a Chicago-based nonprofit that promotes “diversity, equity, and inclusion within the skilled trades industry.”
The organization, Chicago Women in Trades (CWIT), receives roughly 40 percent of its annual budget from the federal government, according to the document.
In a 46-page civil lawsuit filed in February, a month after Trump signed EO 1415, “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing,” and EO 14173, “Ending Illegal Discrimination and…
