Trump Administration Gives Public Schools 10 Days to End DEI Programs or Lose Federal Funding

The Department of Education's directive threatens Title I funding for low-income districts, citing civil rights laws and a Supreme Court ruling.

The Trump administration issued a memo requiring state education agencies to certify within 10 days that schools have eliminated diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs deemed discriminatory under federal law.
Schools that fail to comply risk losing federal funding, including Title I grants critical for supporting low-income students and districts.
The directive is based on the administration's interpretation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and the 2023 Supreme Court decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard.
Critics, including civil rights advocates and legal experts, argue that this interpretation is overly broad and could undermine efforts to address systemic inequities in education.
State and local officials have expressed concerns over the financial and operational impact of the ultimatum, with some districts considering legal challenges.