A federal judge has struck down a Trump administration policy that sought to restrict diversity, equity, and inclusion programs — known as DEI — at schools and universities nationwide.
In a ruling issued Thursday, U.S. District Judge Stephanie Gallagher in Maryland found the Department of Education overstepped its authority when it threatened to cut off federal funding for institutions that continued with DEI initiatives. The ruling came after a lawsuit filed by the American Federation of Teachers and the American Sociological Association.
The case centered on two department memos issued earlier this year. Those directives warned schools to eliminate what the administration called “race-based decision-making” in admissions, financial aid, hiring, or classroom practices — or face severe penalties, including the loss of all federal funding. The memos also expanded the government’s interpretation of the Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling that barred race-conscious admissions, applying it far beyond college admissions into nearly all aspects of education.
Judge Gallagher, herself appointed by President Trump, wrote that the memos represented a sweeping shift in federal oversight. She said they created what she called a “sea change” in how the Education Department regulates classrooms, leaving millions of educators fearful that even lawful speech or beneficial programs could be punished.
While she did not rule on whether DEI policies are wise or fair, she ordered the department to rescind the guidance because it violated procedural law.
The plaintiffs, represented by the legal advocacy group Democracy Forward, hailed the decision as a victory for teachers and students. Group president Skye Perryman said the administration’s effort amounted to “a war on education” that threatened to silence classrooms.
The Education Department expressed disappointment in the ruling but stressed that it still has tools to enforce federal civil rights protections under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.
The memos had drawn widespread criticism from educators, states, and civil rights groups, who argued they amounted to censorship and placed schools in an impossible position — forcing them to either curb protected speech or risk losing federal funding.
With this decision, the future of federal oversight on diversity programs in education remains uncertain, setting up what could be the next major legal battle over race, equity, and civil rights in America’s classrooms.
Reporting by Katy Moore.
