U.S. Education Department Demands Removal of DEI Policies Amid Funding Threats

The U.S. Department of Education has mandated all state education departments remove diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies within 14 days or risk losing federal funding. Acting Assistant Secretary Craig Trainor's letter cites a recent Supreme Court ruling that interpreted such policies as discriminatory. This directive has drawn criticism from lawmakers and free speech advocates who argue it threatens freedom of expression in schools. PEN America called the move an affront to civil rights and educational freedom, while Senate Education Committee member Patty Murray condemned it as an intimidating tactic that undermines local governance in education.