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Less than one month after the issuance of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/03/31/2026-06286/addressing-dei-discrimination-by-federal-contractors">Executive Order 14398</a>&nbsp;(“EO 14398”), “Addressing DEI Discrimination by Federal Contractors,” a coalition of academic and contractor organizations has filed a lawsuit in federal court seeking to have it enjoined.&nbsp;See National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education v. Trump, No. 8:26-cv-01532 (D. Md. filed Apr. 20, 2026).&nbsp;Here is what government contractors need to know.

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As we have&nbsp;<a href="https://www.blankrome.com/sites/default/files/2026-04/govtcont_68_14_79.pdf">previously covered</a>, EO 14398 is a critical new development for government contractors. It introduces a new concept of “racially discriminatory DEI activities,” defined as “disparate treatment based on race or ethnicity in the recruitment, employment (e.g.,&nbsp;hiring, promotions), contracting (e.g.,&nbsp;vendor agreements), program participation, or allocation or deployment of an entity’s resources.”

The plaintiff organizations are challenging EO 14398 on three grounds.

To read the full post, please visit our&nbsp;<a href="https://governmentcontractsnavigator.com/2026/04/24/new-suit-seeks-to-enjoin-eo-14398-implications-for-government-contractors/">Government Contracts Navigator</a>&nbsp;blog.

New Suit Seeks to Enjoin EO 14398: Implications for Government Contractors

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New Suit Seeks to Enjoin EO 14398: Implications for Government Contractors

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