Justice Roberts Sides With Liberals Against Trump On Eliminating DEI Grants

Chief Justice John Roberts stood with the liberals in ruling against President Trump on eliminating DEI grants

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 to allow the Trump administration to eliminate $783 million in federal grants tied to DEI initiatives.

The decision overturns a lower court's decision blocking cuts to DEI initiatives implemented by the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Now the administration can redirect resources away from programs that prioritize ideological agendas over scientific merit and taxpayer accountability, according to the administration

The majority opinion, which said Trump has the authority to stop the grants, emphasized that Trump has the power to make funding decisions, and said the cuts do not violate administrative procedures or discriminate against certain research areas.

However, Roberts once again broke ranks with his conservative colleagues, joining the court's three liberal justices—Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Ketanji Brown Jackson—in a pointed dissent against the majority's decision.

Roberts said that the administration's cuts were abrupt and insufficiently explained, potentially undermining established research protocols.

Many are now pointing to Roberts’ history of being part of elite legal organizations that are packed with liberals.

He has been linked to the Middle Temple, one of the Inns of Court in England, where he holds the title of Honorary Bencher - and serves alongside progressive jurists.

Also, before his Supreme Court confirmation, Roberts was involved with the American Inns of Court, a professional group for judges and lawyers that promotes legal ethics but has been criticized as a "secretive club – that is laced with liberals.

Some reports have raised alarms about connections to Soros-funded fellowships within these circles, prompting questions about potential influences on judicial independence.

Especially since Roberts has a track record of siding with liberal viewpoints in high-stakes cases involving President Trump.

In a January ruling on Trump's hush-money case, Roberts joined the liberal justices and Justice Amy Coney Barrett in rebuking the administration.

Roberts wanted Trump to potentially face sentencing despite his presidential status, with the justices emphasizing that no one is above the law.

That case has been overturned by an appeals court

During an April decision, Roberts broke from the conservative majority to join the liberals, in restricting Trump's power and executive actions.

And Roberts wrote the majority opinion with liberals to block DACA's termination.

Roberts also voted with liberals in rejecting Trump's attempts to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census.