Department of Education warns that public schools must remove DEI policies or lose federal funding

The Department of Education is cracking down on diversity, equity, and inclusion policies in state education departments, warning that failure to comply could result in the loss of federal funding. A recent letter from the Department of Education Office for Civil Rights was sent to all 50 states, giving them a 14-day deadline to remove these policies. The letter, shared on social media by the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency, emphasized the importance of upholding federal civil rights laws and eliminating racial discrimination in educational institutions.

Acting assistant secretary for civil rights in the Department of Education, Craig Trainor, stated in the letter that institutions not in compliance with federal civil rights laws could face potential loss of federal funding. The letter highlighted the Supreme Court ruling in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, which found that affirmative action practices violated the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. It stressed that treating students differently based on race for goals such as diversity, racial balancing, social justice, or equity is illegal under Supreme Court precedent.

Trainor emphasized that the Department of Education will vigorously enforce the law across all educational institutions that receive financial assistance. The letter urged state education departments to ensure their policies align with existing civil rights laws, cease efforts to circumvent prohibitions on using race, and stop relying on third-party contractors to achieve prohibited racial goals.

This crackdown on diversity, equity, and inclusion policies comes after President Donald Trump signed executive orders directing agencies to eliminate federal funding for discriminatory treatment and indoctrination in K-12 schools. The Department of Education has already removed DEI references from documents and websites, placed DEI initiative leaders on leave, and dissolved its Diversity & Inclusion Council.

The Department of Education’s strict stance on diversity, equity, and inclusion policies underscores the importance of upholding federal civil rights laws in educational institutions. Compliance with these laws is crucial to safeguarding federal funding and ensuring equal treatment for all students.