A federal judge in California has ruled that the Trump administration cannot block grants to LGBT groups by enforcing executive orders that require organizations to halt programs promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) or acknowledging the existence of transgender people to receive federal funding.
U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar issued a preliminary injunction, stating that these funding provisions reflect an effort to “censor constitutionally protected speech and services promoting DEI and recognizing the existence of transgender individuals.”
The judge emphasized that while the executive branch has some freedom to implement its political agenda, it is still bound by the Constitution and cannot “weaponize Congressionally appropriated funds to single out protected communities for disfavored treatment or suppress ideas that it does not like.”
The ruling came in a lawsuit filed by a coalition of LGBTQ+ and HIV-serving nonprofits, including the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, who argued that the executive orders violated their constitutional rights and prevented them from fulfilling their missions. These groups receive federal funding for essential services like HIV prevention and treatment, housing, and mental health support.
The judge’s order will remain in effect while the legal case proceeds, though government lawyers are expected to appeal the decision. This ruling is a significant win for the plaintiff organizations, allowing them to continue their work without fear of losing critical federal support.
