A federal judge has blocked two Trump administration directives that sought to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in schools and universities across the United States. The ruling, delivered by U.S. District Judge Stephanie Gallagher in Maryland, declared that the Department of Education violated legal procedures when it threatened to strip federal funding from institutions that maintained DEI initiatives. The decision marks a significant legal win for educators and advocacy groups, but the future of DEI in education remains uncertain.
Ruling Targets Anti-DEI Measures
The court struck down two memos from the Education Department that ordered schools to eliminate all “race-based decision-making” or face potential loss of federal funding. These directives were part of a broader administration effort to redefine civil rights laws in education, framing DEI practices as discriminatory against white and Asian American students.
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Background of the Case
The memos, issued in February and April, expanded the scope of a 2023 Supreme Court decision that barred race-conscious college admissions. The Education Department argued the ruling should apply to every aspect of education, from financial aid and hiring to classroom activities, banning any form of “race-based preference.”
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Judge’s Legal Reasoning
Judge Gallagher, appointed by Donald Trump, ruled the guidance unlawful because it bypassed required procedural steps. She clarified that her decision did not judge whether the policies were “good or bad” but emphasized that the department’s directives “initiated a sea change” in regulation, creating fear among millions of educators about punishment for lawful speech.
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Plaintiffs and Legal Challenge
The lawsuit, brought by the American Federation of Teachers and the American Sociological Association, argued that the government’s approach imposed vague and subjective restrictions. Teachers, they said, were forced to choose between self-censorship and risking federal penalties or prosecution.
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Reactions from Advocacy Groups
Legal advocacy group Democracy Forward, representing the plaintiffs, hailed the ruling as a major victory. “Threatening teachers and sowing chaos in schools throughout America is part of the administration’s war on education, and today the people won,” said Skye Perryman, the group’s president and CEO.
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Department’s Silence on Ruling
The Education Department has not issued an immediate response to the ruling. While the guidance is now scrapped, the legal and political fight over the role of DEI in education is expected to continue, with the administration likely to explore alternative approaches.