On May 19, 2025, the U.S. Deputy Attorney General issued a memorandum (the “Memo”) announcing a Civil Rights Fraud Initiative (the “Initiative”) and instructing the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) to pursue False Claims...more
5/22/2025
/ Affirmative Action ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Diversity and Inclusion Standards (D&I) ,
Employment Discrimination ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Executive Orders ,
False Claims Act (FCA) ,
Federal Contractors ,
Universities ,
Whistleblowers ,
White Collar Crimes
On March 14, 2025, a three-judge panel on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit stayed the nationwide preliminary injunction of President Trump’s Executive Orders 14173 and 14151 (DEI EOs). As we previously...more
With the recent Trump administration executive orders and actions targeting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, corporate DEI programs are under heightened scrutiny like never before. While these actions have not...more
On February 21, 2025, a federal district court in Maryland issued a nationwide injunction, temporarily preventing enforcement of three key provisions of President Trump’s executive orders targeting DEI programs. Specifically,...more
2/24/2025
/ Appeals ,
Compliance ,
Constitutional Challenges ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Diversity and Inclusion Standards (D&I) ,
Executive Orders ,
False Claims Act (FCA) ,
Federal Contractors ,
First Amendment ,
Trump Administration
Amidst the ongoing flurry of executive actions targeting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (“DEI”) programs and policies, causing confusion and disruption across the federal government and private sectors, companies are...more
2/20/2025
/ Affirmative Action ,
Anti-Discrimination Policies ,
Civil Rights Act ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Diversity and Inclusion Standards (D&I) ,
Employment Discrimination ,
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ,
Executive Orders ,
Federal Contractors ,
OFCCP ,
Title VII ,
Trump Administration
On January 21, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order titled “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity” (the “Order”), rescinding affirmative action under Executive Order 11246 and other...more
2/7/2025
/ Affirmative Action ,
Compliance ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Diversity and Inclusion Standards (D&I) ,
Employment Discrimination ,
Executive Orders ,
False Claims Act (FCA) ,
Federal Contractors ,
Risk Management ,
Risk Mitigation ,
Trump Administration ,
Whistleblowers
On January 21, 2025, President Trump signed a sweeping executive order titled “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity” (the “Order”), rescinding affirmative action and other anti-discrimination...more
1/23/2025
/ Affirmative Action ,
Anti-Deficiency Provisions ,
Civil Rights Act ,
Compliance ,
Diversity and Inclusion Standards (D&I) ,
Donald Trump ,
Employment Discrimination ,
Employment Policies ,
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ,
Executive Orders ,
Federal Contractors ,
OFCCP ,
Rescission ,
Subcontractors ,
Title VII ,
Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA)
As anticipated, the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in the two companion cases brought by the Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. (SFFA) against Harvard University (Harvard) and the University of North Carolina (UNC) ended...more
7/3/2023
/ Affirmative Action ,
Civil Rights Act ,
College Admissions ,
Diversity ,
Diversity and Inclusion Standards (D&I) ,
Educational Institutions ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Non-Discrimination Rules ,
SCOTUS ,
Students ,
Students for Fair Admissions v Harvard College ,
Students for Fair Admissions v University of North Carolina ,
Title VI
With the U.S. Supreme Court seemingly poised to end affirmative action for college admission programs, many U.S. employers are wondering whether or to what extent they can continue their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)...more