In a major victory for civil rights in public education, the Trump administration has dropped its lawsuit aimed at restricting diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in schools and colleges.
The White House had previously threatened to withhold billions of dollars in funding for education in states that refused to sign a pledge to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in their schools or colleges.
In August, Judge Stephanie Gallagher of the Federal District Court in Maryland halted the White House’s efforts, writing in a ruling that the administration had “initiated a sea change in how the Department of Education regulates educational practices and classroom conduct, causing millions of educators to reasonably fear that their lawful, and even beneficial, speech might cause them or their schools to be punished.”
At the time, the government appealed the judge’s decision. But now, the White House has withdrawn its case.
The president of the American Federation of Teachers wrote in a statement, “In this case, with the stroke of a pen, the administration tried to take a hatchet to 60 years of civil rights laws that were meant to create educational opportunity for all kids. They attempted to rewrite and redefine opportunity to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion, and threatened schools and districts with penalties if they failed to comply.”
This one victory for civil rights protections in schools and colleges comes as the Trump administration is also pursuing many other avenues to upend diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. Many of those efforts are being challenged in courts across the country.
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