The NAACP has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Education, alleging that the department is attempting to cut off funding to schools that implement diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.
The lawsuit aims to prevent Black students from being denied equal educational opportunities.
The big picture: The NAACP complaint, filed in Washington, D.C., criticizes the Trump administration for targeting programs that promote inclusive curricula, offer equal education access for Black Americans and address racism.
- The NAACP argues that these policies undermine members’ equal protection rights and protections from viewpoint discrimination under the U.S. Constitution.
- The Education Department has been accused of misinterpreting federal civil rights laws and Supreme Court precedent in its efforts to halt DEI programs and racial preferences. The Education Department has not provided immediate comments on the lawsuit.
Driving the news: President Donald Trump has made ending DEI programs and racial preferences a top priority. In February, the Education Department sent a letter to schools receiving federal funding, stating that considering race as a factor in areas such as admissions, hiring, and promotion is prohibited by federal law.
- On April 3, the department demanded certifications of compliance from schools, including the termination of DEI programs, citing Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and a 2023 Supreme Court decision that effectively ended race-conscious admissions in higher education.
- Some schools have reportedly lost funding or canceled programs in response to the Education Department’s demands. The NAACP referenced the withdrawal of first-grade students from an annual African American Read-In at the University of Northern Iowa as an example of the impact on DEI programs.
