States Deepen Divide Over Trump Administration's Anti-DEI Certification Mandate

Democratic-led states challenge the legality of the directive, while Republican-led states move toward compliance ahead of the April 24 deadline.

The Trump administration's directive requires states to certify compliance with Title VI by eliminating 'illegal' DEI practices or risk losing federal funding.
Several Republican-led states, including Indiana and New Hampshire, have signaled compliance, while Democratic-led states like Massachusetts, Colorado, and Illinois are refusing to sign the certification.
Legal challenges are escalating, with New Hampshire school districts joining lawsuits and Colorado citing violations of the Paperwork Reduction Act in its refusal to comply.
Democratic states argue that their existing adherence to federal civil rights laws negates the need for additional certification and question the directive's legal clarity.
The April 24 deadline looms, with the potential for significant financial and political fallout as states and school districts weigh their responses.