Baltimore City, led by Mayor Brandon Scott, has joined forces with several organizations, including the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education and the American Association of University Professors, to legally challenge President Trump's executive orders targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The lawsuit, filed in a Maryland federal court, argues that the orders not only attack DEI programs but also create a framework that could be used to target anyone who embraces diversity. Mayor Scott expressed concerns about the potential loss of crucial federal funding for Baltimore, impacting jobs and livelihoods. The city council is also listed as a plaintiff.

Baltimore, a city with a majority Black population, joins other groups who believe Trump's order, which aims to eliminate diversity officer roles and equity-focused efforts, will have a detrimental impact. Paulette Granberry Russell, CEO of the diversity officers’ association, contends that the orders will hinder higher education's ability to foster opportunity and progress nationwide. The restaurant industry, represented in the lawsuit by the Restaurant Opportunities Centers United, emphasizes the importance of diversity in its workforce and opposes the executive orders. The group’s interim president, Teofilo Reyes, stated the industry would not stand for the elimination of DEI programs.

The White House, however, presents a contrasting viewpoint. Deputy Press Secretary Harrison Fields argues that the Democratic Party's focus on DEI has hampered genuine progress toward equality, and the administration believes its policies offer a path to the American Dream for all. Fields also pointed to President Trump's support from minority groups as evidence of the administration's success in addressing their concerns through policies focused on border security and economic opportunity. The lawsuit cites a 1943 Supreme Court case, West Virginia Board of Education v. Barnett, arguing against compelled conformity of opinion. It further alleges that the executive orders aim to penalize those who acknowledge or discuss the nation's history of discrimination. Democracy Forward, a non-profit organization that has frequently litigated against the Trump administration, is reportedly supporting the lawsuit. Its president, Skye Perryman, asserts that the Constitution protects all Americans, and these orders violate those protections.