U.S. District Court Judge Matthew Kennelly with the Northern District of Illinois issued a nationwide preliminary injunction barring the Labor Department from requiring contractors and grant recipients to cease diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. Kennelly agreed with Chicago Women in Trades (CWIT) that requiring contractors to certify they do not operate unlawful DEI programs likely violates their free-speech rights under the U.S. Constitution. Kennelly also barred the Labor Department from cutting off any grants to CWIT based on a separate January order by Trump directing federal agencies to terminate “equity-related grants.” The judge, however, declined to extend this ruling on equity-related grants nationwide, as had been requested by the group.
