As federal agencies enter a new phase of DEI‑related oversight, the developments that unfolded in the past year continue to shape what grant‑funded organizations should expect next. More than a year after the new Trump Administration issued two landmark executive orders (EOs) seeking to curtail diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs in the public and private sectors, federal funding recipients are still determining how these directives, along with eventual agency-level implementation, affect their policies, procedures, and compliance obligations.

This webinar will offer insight to the DEI sea change that occurred during the last twelve months and summarize the applicable legal systems and regulations. It will recap certifications and assurances that were added to many grants stating the receipt of federal funding will now require the recipient to attest that its compliance with federal anti-discrimination laws is material to the government’s payment decision under the False Claims Act and that the recipient also does not operate any “illegal DEI” programs. It will also cover the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) July 2025 memorandum entitled “Guidance for Recipients of Federal Funding Regarding Unlawful Discrimination” and important takeaways from the categories of conduct detailed in that document.

Looking to the future, this webinar will provide projections—and suggestions—as federal funding recipients continue to grapple with modifications to DEI programs. As the DOJ initiates investigations into DEI practices and programs, what can be expected from such investigations and what steps should federal funding recipients take now to mitigate risk?

Specific topics to be discussed include:

• Review of Executive Orders 14173 “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity” and 14151 “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing”
• Summary of how agencies have implemented the EOs, including adding terms and conditions to grant awards
• Insight into required certifications and assurances relating to compliance with federal anti-discrimination law and “illegal DEI”
• Explanation of the Department of Justice’s July 2025 memorandum and how to conduct a programmatic review based on the guidance
• Update on federal court litigation—and injunctions—relating to the administration’s DEI policies and interpretation
• Projections for Department of Justice enforcement actions in 2026 and beyond
• Core strategies for reviewing programs and policies now in preparation for eventual enforcement actions