A federal judge in Chicago has granted a temporary restraining order halting the enforcement of key provisions in President Donald Trump’s executive orders targeting diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
The ruling is a victory for Chicago Women in Trades (CWIT), a nonprofit organization supporting women pursuing careers in skilled trades, which sued the Trump administration earlier in March over the executive orders.
The lawsuit argued that the administration’s policies unlawfully restrict efforts to promote workplace diversity. The temporary restraining order, issued by U.S. District Judge Matthew Kennelly, prevents federal agencies from enforcing key provisions of the executive orders against CWIT for at least 28 days, with the possibility of an extension.
Sabrina Talukder, senior counsel with the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law’s Economic Justice Project and an attorney for CWIT, emphasized the importance of this ruling.
“This is a critical step in ensuring that the organization can continue the important work it leads—helping women put food on the table through careers in skilled trades and making job sites safer for thousands of women over the last four decades,” Talukder said.
The court’s order blocks the Department of Labor from taking three specific actions during the restraining order’s period:
1. Canceling or pausing any of CWIT’s federal grants under the termination provision of the executive orders.
2. Requiring any grantee or contractor nationwide to make a certification related to the executive orders.
3. Initiating any enforcement action against CWIT under the False Claims Act based on the certification requirement.
Talukder said the legal fight is far from over, as the organization will now seek a preliminary injunction to extend the protections and, ultimately, a permanent injunction to safeguard CWIT from what advocates say is an unjust attempt to dismantle DEI initiatives.
“Organizations like our client in this case promote these programs to create a fair and, someday, a level playing field,” Talukder said. “They are still at risk of being unjustly silenced and defunded. Everyday Americans stand to lose if nonprofits doing the critical work of advancing gender and racial equity cannot continue their work.”
A hearing for a longer-term injunction is set for April 10.
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