Federal judge hinders White House initiative to withdraw funding from educational institutions with diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.
In a series of legal battles, the Trump administration's plans to cut federal funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in schools and colleges have faced significant opposition.
The initial legal challenges began early in 2025, with several federal judges blocking key aspects of the administration's executive orders that sought to prohibit DEI initiatives and cut related funding. For instance, a Maryland federal judge blocked provisions directing agencies to terminate "equity-related" grants or require certifications against DEI programs.
However, the landscape shifted on August 22, 2025, when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a lower court’s order that had blocked the Trump administration from cutting $783 million in research funding by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which included funding supporting DEI efforts. The Supreme Court's 5-4 majority allowed these cuts to proceed, aligning with the administration’s priorities to reduce funding connected to diversity programs.
Despite this ruling, the administration's anti-DEI efforts have not gone uncontested. In a strongly worded ruling, Judge Stephanie Gallagher of the U.S. District Court in Maryland stated that the administration had not followed proper administrative procedure and that its plan was unconstitutional.
The case was brought by the American Federation of Teachers, the American Sociological Association, and a school district in Eugene, Oregon. Judge Gallagher rejected the administration's legal interpretations, stating that the anti-affirmative action ruling does not proscribe any classroom speech or relate to curricular choices, and that Title VI does not either. Title VI is intended to prevent discrimination based on race and shared ancestry.
The administration argues that initiatives that center on race, such as racially segregated groups and mentoring programs for Black students, violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. However, Judge Gallagher's ruling stated that the administration's plan risked constraining educators' free speech rights in the classroom.
The legal back-and-forth is not likely to end any time soon, and it may eventually be up to the Supreme Court to decide whether the president can interpret civil rights law to end racial equity efforts in schools.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has also entered into negotiated settlements with elite colleges regarding accusations of antisemitism. The administration has warned colleges that they may not establish scholarship programs or prizes for students of specific races, or require students to participate in "racially charged" orientation programs.
The administration's anti-DEI efforts have had tangible impacts. By late August 2025, the Trump administration actively implemented substantial funding cuts affecting universities, with examples such as Columbia University losing $400 million in federal grants, including $250 million from NIH. Overall NIH and National Science Foundation grant reductions under the administration have reached several billion dollars, further impacting DEI and related research programs.
Despite these challenges, the administration continues to pursue its anti-DEI agenda. The Education Department has stated that it is disappointed in the ruling but continues to pursue a similar agenda through other avenues. The Trump administration is also investigating DEI programs in several school districts across the country.
Randi Weingarten, president of the teachers union, stated that the court agreed that the requirement is a grave attack on students, the profession, and knowledge itself. The ongoing legal battles underscore the contentious nature of the administration's efforts to reshape education in the United States.
- The ongoing legal struggles surrounding the Trump administration's policies against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in schools and colleges have mirrored the broader landscape of policy-and-legislation, with various federal courts challenging the administration's attempts to cut funding for such initiatives.
- The administration's anti-DEI efforts have extended beyond education, as evidenced by its negotiation of settlements with elite colleges over accusations of antisemitism, and its warnings against scholarships for students of specific races or "racially charged" orientation programs – these actions also fall under the umbrella of general-news.
