A Judge Says No to Trump's Plan to End DEI Programs

A federal judge has put a stop to the Trump administration's plan to end diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in schools and universities. Judge Stephanie Gallagher in Maryland ruled that the Education Department broke the law when it tried to cut federal funding from schools that kept their DEI initiatives.

Long Legal Battle

This ruling comes after a long legal battle. In April, three federal judges had already put a hold on parts of the Education Department's anti-DEI measures. The latest ruling was in response to a lawsuit filed by the American Federation of Teachers and the American Sociological Association in February.

The Memos in Question

The case is about two memos from the Education Department. These memos told schools and universities to stop using race in decisions like admissions, financial aid, and hiring. If they didn't, they could lose all their federal funding. The Trump administration said these practices were discriminating against white and Asian American students.

Judge Gallagher's Ruling

Judge Gallagher, who was appointed by Trump, said the memos caused a big change in how the Department of Education regulates schools. She wrote that millions of educators feared their lawful speech could get them or their schools in trouble. The judge also said the memos were not just a reminder that discrimination is illegal.

Reactions to the Ruling

The legal advocacy firm Democracy Forward, which represented the plaintiffs, called the ruling a big win. They said the administration was attacking education and causing chaos in schools.

The Education Department said they were disappointed but still able to enforce Title VI protections for students.

The Conflict Begins

The conflict started with a memo in February. It said any use of race in admissions, financial aid, hiring, or other aspects of academic life was a violation of federal civil rights law. The government said this was based on a 2023 Supreme Court decision. They argued the ruling applied to all of education, not just admissions.

Further Memo in April

A further memo in April asked state education agencies to confirm they were not using "illegal DEI practices." Schools that didn't comply risked losing federal money and being prosecuted.

Backlash Against the Memos

These memos were a big change in how the government approached civil rights in education. They targeted policies meant to address racial disparities, saying those practices were discriminatory.

The memos faced a lot of backlash. States and education groups called it illegal government censorship. The American Federation of Teachers said the government was imposing unclear and subjective limits on schools. They said teachers and professors had to choose between their constitutional rights and keeping federal funds.