“My efforts to protect federal employees generally, & whistleblowers in particular, from #unlawful treatment will continue,” Dellinger added.

…Judge #AmyBermanJackson had previously ordered Dellinger reinstated temporarily while she considered arguments from both sides. An appeals court rejected the #Trump admin’s emergency appeal of that order, prompting the admin to ask #SCOTUS to intervene. The justices delayed ruling on the admin’s request so that Jackson could hold a hearing w/the parties.

#CivilRights advocates & the plaintiffs argue the #law is meant to level the playing field, counter #discrimination & boost opportunity for people who have historically experienced discrimination. Work promoting #diversity, #equity & #inclusion furthers the law’s intent.

But under #Trump’s interpretation, these efforts are seen as #unlawful discrimination themselves because they consider #race. It relies in part on the 2023 #SCOTUS decision outlawing race consideration in college admissions.

“This Letter is an #unlawful attempt by the Department to impose this administration’s particular views of how #schools should operate as if it were the #law,” the suit says.

The letter & the lawsuit represent polar opposite interpretations of the 1964 #CivilRights Act, which bars #discrimination on the basis of #race in federally funded programs.

“But that optimism doesn’t extend to the consequences of removing the #military’s top judge advocates general [#JAG], the senior military professionals who interpret & enforce the Uniform Code of Military Justice, the rules that guide troops in the field. They have the independent #legal authority to tell any military commander or political appointee that an order from the #president or the secretary of #defense is #unlawful, cannot be given & should not be obeyed.”