Federal Judge Blocks Trump Administration’s DEI Funding Threats for Schools
Concord, N.H. (AP) — In a significant legal setback for the Trump administration, a federal judge has blocked directives aimed at cutting federal funding for public schools that maintain diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. The ruling was made on Thursday and came in response to a lawsuit filed by the National Education Association and the American Civil Liberties Union, which argued that the guidance was "unconstitutionally vague" and violated teachers’ First Amendment rights.
U.S. District Court Judge Landya McCafferty criticized the directives, emphasizing that they lacked clarity on what constitutes a DEI program and how such programs might infringe upon civil rights laws. She stated, “A professor runs afoul… if she expresses the view in her teaching that structural racism exists in America,” highlighting concerns about viewpoint discrimination.
Simultaneously, another judge in Maryland postponed the implementation of similar guidance, highlighting its vagueness and its chilling effect on educators’ speech. American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten described these directives as a "grave attack" on academic freedom and honest history.
Previously, the U.S. Education Department claimed that DEI programs promoted discrimination against white and Asian American students, using a broad interpretation of a Supreme Court ruling limiting race considerations in education. The April directives mandated that local school districts submit compliance certifications, warning that failure to do so could lead to federal funding cuts.
Democratic-led states have expressed resistance to these directives, claiming they overstep authority and improperly threaten educational funding. The court rulings indicate ongoing legal challenges surrounding DEI initiatives in American schools, underscoring contentious debates over educational policies and free speech rights.
Binkley reported from Washington.
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