U.S. Judge Strikes Down Trump Administration's Anti-DEI Education Policies
A U.S. District Judge struck down Trump administration actions against diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in schools, citing unlawful threats to funding and procedural violations.
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Overview
- U.S. District Judge Stephanie Gallagher invalidated two Trump administration actions targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in educational institutions, citing procedural violations.
- The ruling found the Education Department unlawfully threatened to withhold federal funding from schools implementing DEI initiatives, aiming to restrict such programs.
- The invalidated guidance had warned of penalties for "race-based decision-making" and broadly interpreted a 2023 Supreme Court ruling on college admissions.
- Organizations like Democracy Forward challenged the Trump administration's anti-DEI measures through a lawsuit, leading to this significant judicial decision.
- This decision marks a notable victory against the Trump administration's efforts to limit DEI programs, with the controversial guidance having been on hold since April.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources cover this story neutrally by focusing on factual reporting of the judge's ruling and the legal arguments involved. They consistently attribute all evaluative language and strong characterizations to specific sources, such as the plaintiffs, the government, or advocacy groups. The articles avoid loaded terms in their own narrative, presenting a balanced account of the court's decision and the differing perspectives on the Trump administration's guidance.
"The ruling Thursday followed a motion for summary judgment from the American Federation of Teachers and the American Sociological Association, which challenged the government’s actions in a February lawsuit."
ABC News"The ruling Thursday orders the department to scrap the guidance because it runs afoul of procedural requirements, though Gallagher wrote that she took no view on whether the policies were "good or bad, prudent or foolish, fair or unfair.""
NPR"The ruling Thursday orders the department to scrap the guidance because it runs afoul of procedural requirements, though Gallagher wrote that she took no view on whether the policies were “good or bad, prudent or foolish, fair or unfair.”"
Associated PressArticles (7)
Center (3)
FAQ
The U.S. District Judge struck down two Education Department memos issued by the Trump administration that ordered schools and universities to end all 'race-based decision-making' or face penalties, including the threat of losing federal funding. These memos unlawfully threatened to withhold federal funds from institutions that continued DEI initiatives, violating procedural requirements.
Judge Stephanie Gallagher invalidated the guidance citing procedural violations by the Education Department, specifically that the Department unlawfully threatened to cut federal funding in a way that caused educators to fear lawful speech might be punished. She found the guidance initiated significant regulatory changes without following required procedures.
The Trump administration characterized DEI programs as forms of 'race-based decision-making' that constituted discrimination against white and Asian American students. It broadly interpreted a 2023 Supreme Court ruling on college admissions to argue that such DEI practices violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, thus justifying pressure on schools to end these programs.
Organizations like Democracy Forward challenged the Trump administration's anti-DEI regulations through a lawsuit that culminated in the judicial decision striking down the guidance. This legal action was crucial in contesting the administration's policies and highlighting their procedural and constitutional issues.
The ruling marks a significant victory against efforts to limit DEI programs, invalidating controversial guidance that had been on hold since April 2025. It prevents the Education Department from using funding threats to coerce schools into ending DEI initiatives, thus allowing educational institutions to maintain or develop such programs without fear of federal penalties.
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