Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul co-led a coalition of18 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief supporting a legal challenge totwo of President Trump’s executive orders targeting diversity, equity,inclusion and accessibility initiatives. The coalition filed theirbrief in National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education v.Trump before the United States Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit. Theplaintiffs in the case, higher education associations and the city of Baltimore,challenged vague provisions in the executive orders that direct federalagencies to terminate “equity-related grants or contracts” and to include incontracts or grant awards a requirement that recipients certify that they donot operate programs promoting “diversity, equity and inclusion.” One of theorders also directed the U.S. Attorney General to encourage the private sectorto end diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. The administration has notdefined critical terms in the executive orders, including which diversity,equity and inclusion practices it finds objectionable. “Diversity initiativesare lawful, and studies show that they lead to more successful businesses andlearning environments. I will stand with those who are challenging thisadministration’s illegal attempts to eliminate these programs and turn back theclock on the important progress that has been made toward equity.” – AG Raoul