States, Businesses, Scientists, and Civil Rights Groups Support Fight for Free Speech and Pro-Equity Programs
Washington, DC — A broad coalition of allies—including 18 states, leading private employers, and civil rights organizations—filed amicus briefs last week in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in support of Democracy Forward and Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC’s case, on behalf of the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education (NADOHE), the American Association of University Professors, and the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, Maryland, challenging President Trump’s unlawful executive orders targeting diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) programs nationwide.
These executive orders have already chilled protected speech, jeopardized scientific research and education, and triggered funding cuts for programs serving historically marginalized communities. The amici urge the court to uphold the preliminary injunction previously granted by a federal district court in Maryland, which found that the executive orders likely violate the First and Fifth Amendments.
The amici include:
- Eighteen States, which argue that the executive orders undermine civil rights compliance, harm state residents, and obstruct the effective use of federal grants;
- Private Businesses and Employers across a wide range of industries, including the American Sustainable Business Council, who emphasize that DEIA practices are essential to their operations, workplace fairness, and economic performance. These employers warn that the vague and coercive provisions of the executive orders threaten not only legal compliance but also business success; and
- Civil Rights and Science Advocacy Organizations – the ACLU of Maryland, Public Justice Center, and Union of Concerned Scientists – which highlight how the orders are being used to suppress speech and dismantle legitimate scientific and educational efforts in real time.
“These briefs send a clear message: President Trump’s executive orders are not only unlawful—they’re dangerous,” said Aleshadye Getachew, Senior Counsel at Democracy Forward. “From business leaders to public officials to frontline communities, there is overwhelming consensus that these attacks on DEIA are an affront to our constitutional values and our national interest. We’re proud to be alongside our clients in defense of free expression, inclusion, and legal accountability.”
The case, NADOHE et al v. Trump et al, continues in the Fourth Circuit as plaintiffs seek to uphold the injunction which blocked enforcement of the executive orders, which were issued in January 2025 under the false guise of restoring “merit-based opportunity” while in fact silencing speech and penalizing lawful diversity efforts.
The legal team at Democracy Forward on this case includes Aleshadye Getachew, Cynthia Liao, Brooke Menschel, J. Sterling Moore, and Audrey Wiggins.
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Democracy Forward is a national legal organization that advances democracy and social progress through litigation, policy, public education, and regulatory engagement. For more information, please visit www.democracyforward.org.