A federal judge in Baltimore presided over a lengthy hearing today to consider whether to temporarily block two executive orders issued by President Donald Trump. These orders are aimed at removing diversity, equity, and inclusion programs from both the government and private sector.
The US District Judge, Adam Abelson, listened to arguments from several education associations and the city of Baltimore who requested a temporary restraining order against the executive orders. While Judge Abelson did not make an immediate ruling, he expressed skepticism towards the arguments presented by the Justice Department lawyer.
During the hearing, the judge raised a hypothetical scenario questioning whether teaching about Jim Crow using computers funded by the Department of Education would violate the executive orders. The Justice Department attorney struggled to provide a clear response, stating that she could not speak for all agencies based on hypothetical situations.
The Trump administration defended the executive orders by arguing that blocking them would be premature since there were no concrete examples of contracts being terminated as a result of the orders. The lack of clear definitions for terms like 'equity related grants' further complicated the arguments presented.
The plaintiffs in the case contended that the executive orders violate constitutional separations of power and are vague, potentially infringing on the First Amendment rights of organizations to discuss diversity, equity, and inclusion. They also argued that the alleged vagueness of the orders could be seen as intentional restrictions on free speech.
Judge Abelson did not indicate when he would issue a ruling on the request for a temporary restraining order. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for the future of diversity programs in both the public and private sectors.
