New Executive Order Signals the End of Illegal DEI in Federal Contracting

A newly issued Executive Order, “Addressing DEI Discrimination by Federal Contractors,” marks a decisive shift in how the federal government evaluates workplace practices. For federal contractors, this is not a policy nuance, it is a structural change. Practices that rely on race- or ethnicity-based preferences, even when framed as diversity initiatives, may now expose organizations to contractual penalties and…
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DOJ Suit Against MPS Highlights Employers’ Obligation to Maintain Merit-Based, Identity-Neutral Employment Practices

On Dec. 10, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a federal lawsuit against Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS), alleging unlawful race- and sex-based employment practices embedded in the district’s collective bargaining agreement (CBA). According to the complaint, MPS prioritized teachers who belonged to “underrepresented populations,” set explicit numerical staffing goals for “BIPOC” employees, and…
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