Federal Judge Overturns Trump-Era DEI Directives in Education

A federal judge has recently invalidated two directives from the Trump administration that sought to dismantle Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs within the nation’s schools and universities. The ruling, issued by U.S. District Judge Stephanie Gallagher in Maryland, found that the Education Department exceeded its authority by threatening to withhold federal funding from educational institutions continuing with DEI initiatives.

This decision follows a motion for summary judgment filed by the American Federation of Teachers and the American Sociological Association in February, challenging the government’s actions. The core of the case revolved around two Education Department memos that ordered schools to cease all “race-based decision-making” or face severe penalties, including a complete loss of federal funding. These memos were part of a broader campaign by the previous administration to eliminate practices it deemed discriminatory against white and Asian American students.

Judge Gallagher, a Trump appointee, mandated the department to withdraw the guidance, citing procedural irregularities. She clarified that her ruling did not evaluate the merits of the policies themselves but focused on the legal process. The judge rejected the government’s argument that the memos were mere reminders against discrimination, stating they represented a significant shift in how the Education Department regulated educational practices, causing widespread concern among educators.

Democracy Forward, a legal advocacy firm representing the plaintiffs, hailed the ruling as a crucial victory against what they described as an administration’s “war on education.” The original conflict began with a February 14 memo that dramatically expanded the interpretation of a 2023 Supreme Court decision on race in admissions, asserting it applied across all educational aspects. A subsequent April memo demanded state education agencies certify their non-use of “illegal DEI practices,” threatening federal funding cuts and potential prosecution under the False Claims Act. These directives collectively aimed to redefine the government’s approach to civil rights in education, targeting policies designed to address racial disparities as new forms of discrimination, which drew significant backlash from states and education groups.

阅读中文版 (Read Chinese Version)

Disclaimer: This content is aggregated from public sources online. Please verify information independently. If you believe your rights have been infringed, contact us for removal.