States, including California, file lawsuits against the Trump administration over alleged threats to withhold funds from schools that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
A Fiery Showdown: States Sue Trump Administration Over DEI Elimination in Schools
Here's a spicy take on the latest drama unfolding between several states and the Trump administration.
California is leading the charge, joining forces with several other states to sue the White House over its demand that public schools do away with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. California Attorney General Rob Bonta calls it a "cultural war" and a "perverted and distorted view" of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
If schools don't comply with this demand, they might risk losing federal funding - a hefty sum that could amount to billions of dollars for California alone. The lawsuit was filed just a day after the Trump administration set a deadline for state officials to confirm that all DEI efforts had been eliminated.
Interestingly, California defended the legality of DEI efforts in a letter to school district superintendents just two weeks prior to the lawsuit. Bonta, in his statement, accused the federal Department of Education of "abandoning its mission to ensure equal access to education" and turning the Civil Rights Act on its head by claiming that efforts to address discrimination are somehow discriminatory.
California has been a thorn in President Trump's side, suing his administration a whopping 15 times. Yet, neither the White House nor the Department of Education has commented on the latest lawsuit. This confrontation between states and the federal government has high stakes for students across the nation.
California isn't the only one resisting the Trump administration's order. Lawsuits filed by teachers unions and civil liberties groups have already shown some early success. In fact, a federal judge in New Hampshire has temporarily blocked the administration's directive in a lawsuit brought by the National Education Assn. and the American Civil Liberties Union.
It's worth mentioning that this isn't the first time multiple parties are suing over a government policy. Different stakeholders have different standings and positions on such matters, and their cases can fare differently as they rise through the courts.
In an exclusive interview with The Times, Bonta said he took on this case because California has "billions of dollars of funding at stake." He also noted that the administration's directive took a "perverted and distorted view" of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and represented a broader problematic pattern by the administration of vaguely ordering an end to DEI initiatives across government without defining what "DEI" means or why it merits concern.
This "waging of the cultural war," as Bonta calls it, is something the attorney general wants to "engage in" and litigate against.
Joining Bonta in leading the lawsuit are the attorneys general of Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and New York. Other states like Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin have also signed on to support the lawsuit.
California Steps Up: Refusing to Conform to Trump's DEI Order
In a bold move, California has decided not to bow to Trump's order to certify that its 1,000 school districts have ended DEI programs, potentially risking federal dollars. This move marks the 15th time California's attorney general has sued the current Trump administration.
Bonta, who led this lawsuit, declared that President Trump had once again "exceeded his authority under the Constitution and violated the law." The White House and the U.S. Department of Education have yet to comment on the matter.
In the past, Craig Trainor, acting assistant secretary for civil rights in the department, stated that federal financial assistance is a privilege, not a right, and that schools have flouted their legal obligations to qualify for such funding. He argued that many schools have used DEI programs to discriminate against one group of Americans to favor another.
Yet, the states are not the only ones challenging the anti-DEI threat to school funding. Teachers unions and civil liberties groups have already filed lawsuits with some early success. On Thursday, a federal judge in New Hampshire blocked the administration's directive that schools eliminate diversity programs. Meanwhile, another judge postponed other DEI-related education directives in a case brought by the American Federation of Teachers in Maryland.
It's important to note that multiple parties often sue over a single government policy due to differing standings and positions on such matters. These cases can evolve differently as they navigate the court system.
In an interview with The Times, Bonta stated that this issue was "ripe and appropriate" for his office to take on. First, he noted that California has "billions of dollars of funding at stake." Additionally, he argued that the administration's directive misunderstood Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, turning it into a tool for eradicating DEI efforts rather than promoting equality.
In a series of letters, California's Department of Education has echoed these arguments. They maintain that there's nothing in state or federal law that outlaws the concepts of "diversity," "equity," or "inclusion." Furthermore, the CDE questioned the DOE's lack of clarity regarding the specific programs or activities being targeted with the directive.
Further Reading
California Signals Possible Defiance of Trump Anti-DEI Order That Threatens School Funding
California, Other States Sue Trump Administration Over Clawback of COVID School Funds
Federal Courts Block Trump Threat to Cut School Funding Over DEI
- California, against the Trump administration's demand, is refusing to certify that its schools have ended DEI programs, risking federal funds, marking the 15th time California's attorney general has sued the Trump administration.
- The attorneys general of California, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and New York, along with several other states, are leading the lawsuit over the Trump administration's order to eliminate DEI efforts in schools.
- In a bold move, California has not complied with the Trump administration's deadline for eliminating DEI initiatives, maintaining that there's no law banning the concepts of "diversity," "equity," or "inclusion."
- The lawsuit was filed days after the Trump administration set a deadline for state officials to confirm that all DEI efforts had been eliminated, potentially risking billions of dollars in funding for California.
- Bonta, California's attorney general, accused the federal Department of Education of misleading Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by eradicating DEI efforts instead of promoting equality.
- Teachers unions and civil liberties groups have also filed lawsuits challenging the anti-DEI threat to school funding, with some early success in federal court.
- The states' cases, resolved differently as they ascend through the courts, demonstrate the diversity of stances among various parties when dealing with government policies.
- Joining Bonta in the lawsuit, other states have rallied their support, including Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.
