05-04-2025
New York state schools will continue DEI efforts as Trump administration threatens funding, officials say
The New York State Education Department says it is keeping diversity, equity and inclusion programs in schools despite
the Trump administration threatening to pull federal funding
.
In a statement, state education department director of communications JP O'Hare said:
The Trump administration has argued DEI programs violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. Thursday,
the Department of Education sent letters to state commissioners
, giving them until April 13 to sign and return a certification attesting their compliance with federal civil rights law.
The certification states in part, "The use of certain DEI practices can violate federal law. The continued use of illegal DEI practices may subject the individual or entity using such practices to serious consequences."
Those consequences could include losing federal funding, the letter says.
In January,
President Trump signed executive orders ending DEI programs
within the federal government and cutting funding for so-called DEI initiatives.
