A federal judge in California has issued a preliminary injunction against the Trump administration's directive that sought to tie billions of dollars in federal grants to a crackdown on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. U.S. District Judge William Orrick ruled on Thursday that the White House exceeded its authority by imposing these conditions on local governments, stating the restrictions likely violate the Constitution and the Administrative Procedure Act.
Order Bars Enforcement of Challenged Conditions
Judge Orrick granted the injunction, barring the Departments of Homeland Security, Justice, and the Interior from enforcing the "anti-DEI" grant conditions against 11 local governments. The affected municipalities argued that the administration unlawfully attached ideological requirements to grants approved by Congress for essential public services. These grants fund programs related to public safety, disaster preparedness, policing, fire protection, water conservation, and services for crime victims.
Orrick agreed with the plaintiffs, finding that the administration's new requirements "have nothing to do with or contradict the Congressional purpose" behind the grant programs. He also affirmed the argument that Congress, not the executive branch, controls federal spending. The challenged policies required grant recipients to certify they do not operate programs that promote DEI in violation of federal anti-discrimination laws. Other conditions aimed to encourage cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and compliance with executive orders related to federal grants.
Harm to Local Services Cited
The judge concluded that allowing these conditions to remain would cause immediate harm to local governments and the communities they serve, potentially impacting public safety and critical services. The ruling noted that the public interest favors preserving funding for essential local services and infrastructure, which are paid for by federal tax dollars.
The lawsuit was brought by the cities of Fresno, Santa Clara, Redwood City, Santa Cruz, Stockton, Beaverton, Corvallis, and Hillsboro, along with Los Angeles, San Diego, and Santa Barbara counties. This decision represents the latest judicial setback for the Trump administration's efforts to condition federal funding on compliance with its anti-DEI agenda. Similar rulings have been issued in other cases challenging these grant restrictions.
The preliminary injunction will remain in effect while the lawsuit continues. The Justice Department is reportedly expected to appeal the decision.