Courts impede Trump's school funding threat over DEI, decisions apply to California also.
Unfiltered, candid tale:
K-12 public schools have scored a victory as a pair of fed-up federal judges put the brakes on Trump's bullish move to snuff out diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts.
In a double whammy on April 24, 2025, two judges made a stand against the administration's despotic strategies. One in New Hampshire and another in Maryland, stepped up to ensure schools don't lose out on essential funding over their DEI programs[2][3][4].
The US Education Department had been barking orders, threatening schools with termination of federal grants and contracts if they persisted with their DEI practices[2]. In response, the National Education Assn. and the American Civil Liberties Union fired up a lawsuit, claiming the administration's actions violated teachers' rights and trampled on the First Amendment.
The Education Department's guidance had been wildly inconsistent, casting a dark cloud of uncertainty over schools nationwide[2]. The ruling in New Hampshire declared the directive "unconstitutionally vague," to the relief of California's Education Department[2].
A third Trump-appointed judge in Maryland went a step further, halting the enforcement of the Education Department's anti-DEI guidance[3]. This ruling came in a separate case filed by the American Federation of Teachers in Maryland.
California, with its hefty yearly federal funding of about $16.3 billion, expressed satisfaction with the judicial action[4]. Education officials remained committed to providing opportunities for students, not pulling the rug out from under them. On the other hand, schools like the Los Angeles Unified, which receives about $1.26 billion per year, face the ongoing threat from Trump's deceitful directives[4].
In February, the US Education Department had mandated schools to end any practice that favored one race, or risk losing their federal funding[4]. In blatant disregard for the legal system, the department ordered states to sign certifications verifying compliance with civil rights laws, including the rejection of what they dubbed "illegal DEI practices."
It's important to note that the directives lack the force of law but resort to the use of civil rights enforcement to extort schools into terminating their DEI practices[3][4]. Schools were warned that continuing such practices "in violation of federal law" could trigger US Justice Department litigation and the termination of federal grants and contracts[3][4].
California:
In a rebellious stand, California announced it wouldn't comply with the Trump order to certify its 1,000 school districts had ended their DEI programs, putting federal dollars at stake[5]. The Education Department declined to comment on the matter.
Some experts and education officials in Democratic-led states argue that the administration is overstepping its authority and that there is nothing illegal about DEI. "Discrimination, harassment, abuse, and violence are unlawful, but DEI policies and activities that aim to address those ills in schools and colleges are not," said Shaun Harper, a USC professor of education, public policy, and business[5].
Interesting Tidbits:- The Education Department's actions likely violated the Administrative Procedure Act by not following required regulatory processes[3].- The February memo from the department dramatically expanded the interpretation of a 2023 Supreme Court decision barring the use of race in college admissions to all aspects of education[5].- The lawsuits argue that the guidance limits academic freedom and is so vague it leaves schools and educators in limbo about what they may do, such as whether voluntary student groups for minority students are still allowed[5].
- The judgment in California's favor blocked the enforcement of Trump's order to end diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts in its 1,000 school districts.
- California education officials are committed to providing opportunities for students, not pulling the rug out from under them, even if it means risking federal funding.
- The US Education Department's directives against DEI programs were deemed unconstitutionally vague, casting a dark cloud of uncertainty over schools across the nation.
- In a defiant move, California announced it would not comply with the Trump order, asserting that there's nothing illegal about DEI practices in schools and colleges.
- Experts and education officials in Democratic-led states argue that the administration is overstepping its authority by using civil rights enforcement to extort schools into terminating their DEI programs.
- The US Education Department's actions likely violated the Administrative Procedure Act by not following required regulatory processes, as some experts claim.
- The lawsuits against the Education Department argue that the guidance limits academic freedom, leaving schools and educators in limbo about what they may do, such as whether voluntary student groups for minority students are still allowed.
- In an interesting development, the Education Department's February memo expanded the interpretation of a 2023 Supreme Court decision barring the use of race in college admissions to all aspects of education.
