Overview

• The Trump administration has issued a 10-day deadline for schools to certify compliance with its interpretation of civil rights laws, targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.
• The U.S. Department of Education has threatened to withhold federal funding from noncompliant states, citing a Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action.
• New York State Education Department has refused to comply, arguing that the federal government lacks legal authority to enforce these directives without formal administrative procedures.
• Texas has already banned DEI programs in higher education, with K-12 schools potentially facing similar restrictions under state legislation.
• Federal funding represents a significant portion of education budgets in states like Texas, where it accounts for 17% of K-12 funding, raising the stakes of the administration's ultimatum.