February Tip of the Month: Federal Court Issues Nationwide Injunction Against Executive Orders on DEI Initiatives
On February 21, 2025, a federal district court issued a nationwide injunction temporarily blocking the enforcement of January 2025 Executive Orders (EOs) targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
The court’s decision suspends the EOs’ provisions: (1) requiring federal contractors and grantees to include in every contract or grant award a certification that the contractor or grantee does not operate illegal DEI programs, (2) directing the attorney general to take measures to encourage the private sector to end illegal DEI, and (3) requiring federal agencies to terminate equity-related grants or contracts. Though the injunction may provide temporary relief to employers, employers must continue to exercise prudence with respect to DEI initiatives, as the injunction will likely be appealed and, in the interim, does not prevent government agencies, such as the EEOC, from initiating DEI-related investigations and/or lawsuits. Read our blog post on this topic for additional information.
Print and share
Authors
Notice
Before proceeding, please note: If you are not a current client of Perkins Coie, please do not include any information in this e-mail that you or someone else considers to be of a confidential or secret nature. Perkins Coie has no duty to keep confidential any of the information you provide. Neither the transmission nor receipt of your information is considered a request for legal advice, securing or retaining a lawyer. An attorney-client relationship with Perkins Coie or any lawyer at Perkins Coie is not established until and unless Perkins Coie agrees to such a relationship as memorialized in a separate writing.
Notice
Before proceeding, please note: If you are not a current client of Perkins Coie, please do not include any information in this e-mail that you or someone else considers to be of a confidential or secret nature. Perkins Coie has no duty to keep confidential any of the information you provide. Neither the transmission nor receipt of your information is considered a request for legal advice, securing or retaining a lawyer. An attorney-client relationship with Perkins Coie or any lawyer at Perkins Coie is not established until and unless Perkins Coie agrees to such a relationship as memorialized in a separate writing.