A U.S. District Judge Stephanie Gallagher has blocked the Trump administration’s guidance that aimed to restrict Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs in educational institutions.
The ruling found that the Department of Education acted unlawfully by threatening to withhold federal funding from schools that continued DEI initiatives.
The guidance, introduced under the Trump administration, warned schools that certain DEI programs could violate federal civil rights laws and risk losing federal funds.
Critics argued that the guidance would harm underrepresented groups and hinder efforts to promote equity in education.
Judge Gallagher ruled that the Department of Education exceeded its authority and that schools cannot be penalized financially for implementing DEI programs.