Dept of Education warns states to eliminate DEI policies in public schools or lose federal funding

The Department of Education has issued a warning to all 50 state education departments, instructing them to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies in public schools or risk losing federal funding.

In a letter from the department’s Office for Civil Rights, Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor notified education officials that they have 14 days to comply with the directive.

"Institutions that fail to comply with federal civil rights law may, consistent with applicable law, face potential loss of federal funding," Trainor wrote.

The letter, which was shared on social media by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, stated that "overt and covert racial discrimination that has become widespread in this Nation's educational institutions" will not be tolerated. It also referenced the US Supreme Court’s ruling that struck down affirmative action in college admissions, arguing that the decision should be more broadly applied.

"The law is clear: treating students differently on the basis of race to achieve nebulous goals such as diversity, racial balancing, social justice, or equity is illegal under controlling Supreme Court precedent," the letter stated.

Trainor emphasized that the Department of Education will enforce civil rights laws in all federally funded educational institutions, including preschools, K-12 schools, and universities. The letter urged state education agencies to "ensure that their policies and actions comply with existing civil rights law … cease all efforts to circumvent prohibitions on the use of race by relying on proxies or other indirect means to accomplish such ends.” It also warned against using third-party contractors to implement race-based policies.

The move follows an executive order signed by President Donald Trump, directing federal agencies to develop plans to eliminate funding for “illegal and discriminatory treatment and indoctrination in K-12 schools, including based on gender ideology and discriminatory equity ideology."