(Reuters) – Civil rights, housing and AIDS prevention groups sued U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday, saying their federal funding is in jeopardy because of his executive orders concerning diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility.
The lawsuit by the National Urban League, National Fair Housing Alliance and the AIDS Foundation of Chicago names 27 defendants including Trump, several members of his cabinet, and many federal agencies.
In a complaint filed in the Washington, D.C. federal court, the nonprofits said Trump’s orders and agencies’ implementation of those orders penalize them for speaking out in support of DEIA and transgender people, and violate their constitutional right to free speech.
“By attacking DEIA, the Executive Orders expressly disadvantage people of color, women, LGBTQ people and people with disabilities,” while jeopardizing federal grants and contracts that are “critical for plaintiffs to accomplish their mission-driven work,” the complaint said.
The lawsuit joins dozens of others challenging Trump’s actions during his first month in office.
The National Urban League is a civil rights organization that advocates for Blacks and other historically underserved groups. The National Fair Housing Alliance works to end discrimination in housing.
The case is National Urban League et al v Trump et al, U.S. District Court, District of Columbia, No. 25-00471.
(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Richard Chang)
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