Associations representing American hospitals, physicians and nurses said the order “would effectively reverse decades of progress in combating racial inequality” and called for it to be rescinded. The Business Roundtable joined the Chamber and other groups, saying the order was “already having a broadly chilling effect on legitimate and valuable” training.

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, American Association of Advertising Agencies, HR Policy Association and other business groups have also denounced the order, as have the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Council of Nonprofits, the latter of which worked with the Chamber to produce a joint letter.

“I’ve never seen this type of response, in the form of letters, that have put the contractor community and progressive groups on the same page,” said Chris Wilkinson, senior counsel with the law firm Perkins Coie and a former associate solicitor for the U.S. Department of Labor.