The NAACP is taking the U.S. Department of Education to court, accusing it of trying to illegally cut off funding to schools that use diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs—programs the group says are essential for giving Black students equal access to quality education.
In a lawsuit filed in Washington, D.C., the nation’s largest civil rights organization called out what it described as a politically motivated campaign—tracing back to the Trump administration—to dismantle initiatives that promote honest, inclusive education, equal opportunity, and a sense of belonging for marginalized students.
“These are programs that help Black students access selective schools, feel seen in the curriculum, and challenge racism in the classroom,” the complaint argues. The NAACP says the Department’s actions are not only misguided but violate constitutional protections around equal treatment and free expression.
So far, the Education Department hasn’t commented on the suit.
Former President Donald Trump has made attacking DEI programs a central issue in his campaign for a second term, pledging to eliminate what he calls “racial preferences.” And in February, the Education Department sent out a “Dear Colleague” letter to schools that receive federal funds, warning them they could no longer factor in race when making decisions about admissions, scholarships, hiring, or even graduation ceremonies.
Then in April, the Department ramped up the pressure, demanding schools certify they were in compliance—effectively asking them to scale back or drop DEI initiatives altogether. Officials say this is in line with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bans racial discrimination in programs that get federal funding, and a 2023 Supreme Court ruling that ended race-conscious admissions in higher ed.
But the NAACP says schools are already reacting—some out of fear, others under pressure—and programs are being canceled. One example? The Waterloo, Iowa, school district recently pulled first-grade students from a university event celebrating African American literature, despite it being a long-running and popular program that reached nearly 3,500 students across 73 schools.
NAACP President Derrick Johnson didn’t hold back: “The White House is effectively sanctioning discrimination—the very thing civil rights laws were created to stop,” he said. “Kids of color are already stuck in underfunded, segregated schools with fewer resources and more discipline. Pretending that inequality doesn’t exist only makes it worse.”
The case, NAACP v. U.S. Department of Education, has been filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
