Federal action to curtail diversity, equity and inclusion programs moved forward on two fronts this week: an appellate court allowed key executive orders targeting DEI initiatives to stand for now, and the General Services Administration proposed requiring all federal fund recipients to certify they do not operate DEI programs the administration deems discriminatory. The 4th Circuit found plaintiffs were unlikely to show broad free‑speech harm, but judges left open future challenges against specific applications. The GSA draft would force colleges and other grantees to certify compliance or risk losing federal contracts and grants, intensifying legal and compliance work for institutions that rely on federal funding.