
US Judges halt Trump administration's attempt to cut public school funding over DEI programs
Three federal judges blocked or delayed the Trump administration's recent efforts to clamp down on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in public schools. The rulings came in separate lawsuits filed by civil rights and teachers' organizations who argued that the administration's directives were vague, overreaching, and violated constitutional rights.
Judges in New Hampshire, Maryland, and Washington, DC, issued rulings that limit or suspend implementation of recent guidance from the US Education Department.
In New Hampshire
US District Judge Landya McCafferty in New Hampshire said the administration's April guidance failed to clearly define DEI programs or clarify when such efforts might violate civil rights laws. 'The letter does not even define what a 'DEI program' is,' McCafferty wrote according to AP.
She added that the guidance could amount to viewpoint discrimination. 'A professor runs afoul of the 2025 letter if she expresses the view in her teaching that structural racism exists in America, but does not do so if she denies structural racism's existence. That is textbook viewpoint discrimination.'
In Maryland
In Maryland, US District Judge Stephanie Gallagher postponed the implementation of the February 14 memo, which had extended a 2023 Supreme Court decision banning race-based college admissions to other aspects of education, such as hiring, scholarships, and housing.
Gallagher found the memo was improperly issued and could force teachers to choose between 'being injured through suppressing their speech or through facing enforcement for exercising their constitutional rights.'
That case was filed by the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). Randi Weingarten, president of the AFT, welcomed the ruling.
In Washington
In Washington, DC, a third judge granted a preliminary injunction against another element of the April guidance following a lawsuit by the NAACP, which argued that the administration failed to identify specific DEI practices that could trigger legal or financial penalties.
The US Education Department had given states until Thursday to certify that local schools are in compliance with civil rights law, including the abandonment of what it called 'illegal DEI practices.' States that refused to submit the form risked losing access to Title I funds — the primary federal aid program for schools in low-income communities.
President Donald Trump 's education secretary, Linda McMahon, emphasized the potential consequences in a Fox Business Network interview on Tuesday, saying states that refuse to sign could 'risk some defunding in their districts.'
McMahon said the goal was to ensure 'no discrimination happening in any of the schools.'

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


News18
23 minutes ago
- News18
Bruce Springsteens Berlin concert echoes with history and a stark warning
Last Updated: Berlin, Jun 11 (AP) Veteran rock star Bruce Springsteen, a high-profile critic of President Donald Trump, slammed the US administration as 'corrupt, incompetent and treasonous" during a concert on Wednesday in Berlin. He was addressing tens of thousands of fans at a stadium built for the 1936 Olympic Games that still bears the scars of World War II and contains relics from the country's dark Nazi past. 'Tonight, we ask all who believe in democracy and the best of our American experiment to rise with us, raise your voices, stand with us against authoritarianism, and let freedom reign," he said. Springsteen, long a political opponent of the president, has made increasingly pointed and contentious public statements in recent concerts. He denounced Trump's politics during a concert last month in Manchester, calling him an 'unfit president" leading a 'rogue government" of people who have 'no concern or idea for what it means to be deeply American." Springsteen is no stranger to Berlin. In July 1988, he became one of the first Western musicians to perform in East Germany, performing to a ravenous crowd of 1,60,000 East Germans yearning for American rock 'n' roll and the freedom it represented to the youth living under the crumbling communist regime. An Associated Press news story from that period says 'fireworks steaked through the sky" and hundreds of people in the audience waved handmade American flags as they sang along to 'Born in the USA." Almost four decades later, Springsteen issued a stark warning, 'The America that I love, the America that I've sung to you about, that has been a beacon of hope and liberty for 250 years, is currently in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent, and treasonous administration." (AP) RUK RUK


Time of India
44 minutes ago
- Time of India
US orders partial evacuation of Iraq Embassy, says dependents of troops can leave locations across Middle East
US missions in Baghdad and Erbil started evacuating most of their diplomats in response to unspecified security threats Wednesday, reports claimed. 'President Trump is committed to keeping Americans safe, both at home and abroad. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In keeping with that commitment, we are constantly assessing the appropriate personnel posture at all our embassies. Based on our latest analysis, we decided to reduce the footprint of our mission in Iraq,' the State Department said in an emailed statement. Defense secretary Pete Hegseth authorized the voluntary departure of US military dependents across the Middle East, Politico reported. The sudden move came after Iran's defense minister threatened to strike American based in the region if negotiations over Iran's nuclear program fail. Iran has repeatedly said its nuclear ambitions are focused on peaceful purposes like energy production. But Nasirzadeh said on Wednesday that "if a conflict is imposed on US bases are within our reach." The Baghdad embassy has already been on limited staffing, and the order will not affect a large number of personnel, according to the AP. The State Department is also authorizing the departure of nonessential personnel and their family members from Bahrain and Kuwait, giving them the option to leave the country.


Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
Oil Surges as US Orders Partial Evacuation of Iraqi Embassy
Oil surged as the US government ordered a partial evacuation of its embassy in Iraq amid rising security risks. West Texas Intermediate futures jumped 4.9% to settle above $68 a barrel, the largest gain since October, as the Trump administration reduced embassy staff in Iraq and permitted military service-members' families to leave the region in response to ongoing security concerns. The UK Navy also issued a rare warning to mariners that higher tensions in the Middle East could affect shipping. The developments compounded speculation about possible supply disruptions in the Middle East after AFP reported that Iran threatened to target US military bases in the region if conflict breaks out. 'Iranian rhetoric has turned notably more hostile, and these threats are being substantiated by real-world developments,' said Rebecca Babin, a senior energy trader at CIBC Private Wealth Group. 'While geopolitical rallies are often seen as selling opportunities, this situation carries the added complexity of potential Israeli military action if negotiations break down, which is keeping traders more cautious about selling into the rally.' Elsewhere, President Donald Trump told the New York Post he's 'less confident' about whether he can convince Tehran to agree on shutting down its nuclear program. He also posted on social media that a trade deal with China was 'done,' subject to the approval of President Xi Jinping. Oil had been weighed down by expectations that a trade war between the world's two largest economies would hurt demand and that a deal with Iran would bring back sanctioned barrels, adding to rising OPEC supplies. Prices have recovered in recent sessions, supported by easing trade tensions and the outlook for summer demand. A monthly report from the US Energy Information Administration underscored the oil market's current uncertainties. While the agency expects supply to eclipse demand by 800,000 barrels a day this year, the most since it began publishing a forecast for 2025, it also doesn't see US crude production topping last month's levels before the end of next year, a sign that lower prices are curbing some supply. Signs of market tightness have also appeared along the futures curve. Earlier this week, the February-March WTI spread flipped to backwardation — where near-term prices are higher than longer-dated ones — for the first time since April, with several subsequent months following suit earlier today, signaling concerns about oversupply are easing. To get Bloomberg's Energy Daily newsletter in your inbox, click here. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.