The College Fix reported that a federal judge just blocked the Trump administration’s effort to stop taxpayer dollars from funding teacher-training programs that promote DEI.
The ruling comes just weeks before the November 3 midterm elections, keeping the fight over DEI and education policy in the political spotlight.
The U.S. Department of Education (ED) moved in February 2025 to terminate grants for programs promoting DEI, “anti-racism,” social justice activism, “white privilege,” and similar leftist concepts. ED ultimately canceled over $600 million in grants under two teacher-training programs.
Eight Democrat-led states sued.
The judge sided with those states and struck down ED’s policy. The court ruled that the department acted arbitrarily and capriciously and had not established clear criteria for determining which programs constituted DEI. The court added that ED failed to adequately consider how the grant cancellations would affect schools, teachers, and students relying on the money.
Here’s some good news: the ruling does not automatically restore the canceled money. Programs seeking repayment will have to pursue those claims in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.
ED maintains that taxpayer dollars should prepare effective teachers and improve student learning, not fund divisive racial ideology. The Trump administration will continue to block tax dollars from the left’s DEI agenda.
With the midterms approaching, the court fight ensures that the debate over DEI, federal education policy, and taxpayer funding will continue.
Photo credit: Chris Zubak-Skees (Creative Commons) – Some rights reserved
