As part of President Trump’s January 2025 executive order, “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity,” the Trump administration asked every federal agency to identify nine organizations—including private companies, universities, and nonprofits—each believes is in violation of federal civil rights or contracting rules because of “illegal DEI practices.” Specifically, the order empowered federal agencies to investigate and potentially pursue lawsuits or other interventions against up to nine “publicly traded corporations, large non-profit corporations or associations, foundations with assets of 500 million dollars or more, State and local bar and medical associations, and institutions of higher education with endowments over 1 billion dollars.”
These lists were due to the White House by May 21, 2025, and are expected to inform future investigations, funding decisions, and public enforcement. With 440 agencies listed in the Federal Register, the directive could result in up to 3,960 organizations being named. This guide provides guidance and recommendations for organizations that are named on the list or who are preparing for the possibility of being named on the list.
