Quick Hit: A complaint has been filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, contending that President Trump’s recent Executive Order (the “Order”) barring contractors from engaging in “racially discriminatory DEI activities” violates First Amendment free speech and freedom of association rights of federal contractors, and exceeds
Rachel Edelson
Rachel Edelson is a law clerk in the Labor Department and is a member of the Employment Litigation & Counseling Groups.
Contact:Read more about Rachel Edelson
FAR Council’s PRA Request for New Contractor Anti-DEI Requirement Raises Speculation About Annual Information Collection
By Guy Brenner & Rachel Edelson on
Quick Hit: On April 17, 2026, the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council (the “FAR Council”) submitted a justification pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act (“PRA”), seeking emergency clearance from the Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”) to permit collection of information to comply with Executive Order 14398 (the “Order”), “which…
FAR Council Begins Rapid Implementation of New Contractor DEI Restrictions to New and Existing Contracts
By Guy Brenner & Rachel Edelson on
Quick Hit: On April 17, 2026, the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council (the “FAR Council”) commenced implementation of Executive Order 14398 (“the Order”). In its memorandum issued to government acquisition and procurement officials, the FAR Council provides guidance regarding the implementation of the Order, which it describes as establishing “that agencies…
DOJ Resolves First DEI-Related False Claims Act Matter with IBM for $17 Million
By Guy Brenner & Rachel Edelson on
Quick Hit: On April 10, 2026, the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) announced the first False Claims Act (“FCA”) resolution secured under its Civil Rights Fraud Initiative. The settlement resolves allegations that International Business Machines Corporation (“IBM”) violated the FCA “by failing to comply with anti-discrimination requirements in its federal…
Proposal Will Require Federal Grant Recipients to Certify DEI Compliance Requirements to Register with System for Award Management
By Guy Brenner & Rachel Edelson on
Quick Hit: A proposed change to the certification required for registration with the System for Award Management (“SAM”), if adopted, will expand the certifications required for entities applying for or receiving grants, cooperative agreements, or financial assistance such as loans, insurance, and direct appropriations from the federal government. The…
New Executive Order Targets “Racially Discriminatory DEI Activities” by Federal Contractors and Subcontractors
Quick Hit: On March 26, 2026, President Trump signed an Executive Order titled “Addressing DEI Discrimination by Federal Contractors” (the “Order”) which mandates the inclusion of a new clause (the “Clause”) in all covered federal contracts and contract-like instruments prohibiting federal contractors from engaging in “racially discriminatory DEI…