The landscape of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives continues to evolve, with a significant legal development involving the nonprofit Chicago Women in Trades (CWIT). On March 27, a judge granted CWIT a temporary restraining order in its lawsuit against executive orders issued by former President Donald Trump, marking a victory for DEI advocates and women in the trades.

The Legal Challenge

CWIT filed its lawsuit on February 26, targeting a series of anti-DEI executive orders issued by Trump on January 20 and 21. The suit names not only Trump but also the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), then-Acting Secretary of Labor Vincent Micone, the Office of Management and Budget, its Director Russell Vought, the U.S. Department of Justice, and Attorney General Pam Bondi as defendants.

At the core of the complaint is CWIT's assertion that Trump failed to clearly define DEI within the executive orders. This vagueness, they argue, put essential funding for their programs at risk—particularly initiatives aimed at increasing representation of Black and Latina women in skilled trades.

“The anti-diversity EOs declare all diversity, equity, and inclusion programs illegal, and identify the lengths to which the federal government will go to end them,” the complaint reads. “But the anti-diversity EOs offer no explanation as to what types of programs to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion ‘violate any applicable Federal anti-discrimination laws,’ or how.”

Temporary Restraining Order Details

In granting the temporary restraining order, the judge found that CWIT was likely to succeed on “the merits of its First Amendment claims involving the Termination Provision and the Certification Provision,” and acknowledged that the organization demonstrated a likelihood of irreparable harm.

CWIT emphasized in its filing that the “inability to provide education, training, support, and guidance for women in trades” would result in “immeasurable” damage, not just to its beneficiaries but to the skilled trades industry and the broader workforce.

The judge's ruling noted, “The balance of equities favors CWIT because of the severity of a First Amendment injury, because the government can still enforce the provisions of the Executive Orders that are unlikely to violate the First Amendment, and because the government can still enforce existing anti-discrimination laws.”

As a result, the DOL is temporarily prohibited from suspending or canceling any of CWIT’s current grants. The government is also temporarily barred from pursuing enforcement under the Federal Claims Act against CWIT based on the executive orders. The restraining order is set to last 28 days.

Looking Ahead

With this initial legal win, CWIT and its supporters are now focused on securing a more permanent legal safeguard.

“Now, our focus turns to seeking a preliminary and eventually a permanent injunction to fully safeguard CWIT from being targeted for its work to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion for women in the skilled trades,” said Sabrina Talukder, senior counsel with the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law’s Economic Justice Project.

She underscored the broader stakes involved in the case: “CWIT is 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.”

The case highlights the tension between federal policy and grassroots DEI advocacy, especially for nonprofits working to level the playing field in historically male-dominated sectors like construction and skilled trades.

CWIT, based in Chicago, has been a national leader in supporting women in skilled labor for decades. Through training, mentorship, and advocacy, the organization has helped thousands of women build careers in construction, manufacturing, and related industries.

While CWIT did not respond to media requests by the time of publication, their legal efforts and this court decision underscore the significant role that organizations like CWIT play in the ongoing fight for workplace equality and opportunity.

This temporary restraining order represents not just a procedural victory, but a moment of affirmation for groups across the country striving to protect and expand inclusive workforce programs amid changing political landscapes.

Originally reported by Carolin Colvin in Construction Dive.