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Judges Block Trump Administration's Anti-DEI Policies in Education

Federal courts issue injunctions against measures that threatened funding cuts to schools over diversity programs, citing constitutional concerns.

People walk on the Business School campus of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S., April 15, 2025. REUTERS/Faith Ninivaggi/File Photo
The actual Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 document and pen is on display in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., July 1, 2004. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act into law on July 2, 1964 and the landmark law prohibits racial discrimination in public accommodations, publicly owned or operated facilities, employment and union membership, and voter registration.
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Overview

  • Federal judges in New Hampshire, Maryland, and Washington, D.C., have temporarily halted the Trump administration's directives targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in public schools.
  • The rulings found the administration's guidance unconstitutionally vague, likely violating the First Amendment and due process rights of educators and institutions.
  • The February 'Dear Colleague' letter and subsequent directives threatened to withdraw federal funding from schools that failed to eliminate DEI practices, but lacked clear definitions of what constitutes a DEI program.
  • The legal challenges, led by organizations such as the National Education Association and American Civil Liberties Union, argue the policies suppress academic freedom and create confusion for schools attempting compliance.
  • The Biden administration is expected to appeal the decisions, while some Democratic-led states continue to resist compliance with the certification demands tied to federal funding.