Trump Administration Threatens Federal Education Cuts Over DEI Policies

States face a 10-day deadline to certify the elimination of DEI initiatives, prompting legal challenges and resistance from local leaders.

The Trump administration issued a directive requiring states to certify within 10 days that schools have eliminated diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives or risk losing federal education funding.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson announced plans to sue the federal government if funds are withheld, calling the directive unconstitutional and harmful to high-poverty schools reliant on Title I funding.
New York State Education Department formally refused to comply with the directive, asserting that the federal government lacks the authority to enforce such a mandate.
Federal education funding constitutes approximately 10% of public school budgets nationwide, with Title I funds critical for supporting low-income students in districts like Chicago, Philadelphia, and New York City.
The lack of clarity in the directive regarding what constitutes prohibited DEI practices has created widespread uncertainty and legal scrutiny.