Latest news with #ToddBlanche
Associated Press
6 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Judge refuses to temporarily block the Trump administration from removing Copyright Office director
WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge refused Wednesday to temporarily block the Trump administration from removing and replacing the director of the U.S. Copyright Office. U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly ruled from the bench that the office director, Shira Perlmutter, hasn't met her legal burden to show how removing her from the position would cause her to suffer irreparable harm. Kelly's refusal to issue a temporary restraining order isn't the final word in the lawsuit that Perlmutter filed last week. If Perlmutter decides to seek a preliminary injunction, the judge is giving her attorneys and government lawyers until Thursday afternoon to present him with a proposed schedule for arguing and deciding the matter. Perlmutter's attorneys say she is a renowned copyright expert who also has served as Register of Copyrights since the Librarian of Congress appointed her to the job in October 2020. Earlier this month, Trump appointed Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche to replace Carla Hayden as Librarian of Congress. The White House fired Hayden amid criticism from conservatives that she was advancing a 'woke' agenda. Perlmutter's lawyers argued that the president doesn't have the authority to unilaterally remove the Register of Copyrights or appoint an acting Librarian of Congress. ___
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
DOJ targeting DEI campus initiatives under fraud law
The Department of Justice on Monday announced a new initiative aimed at going after university campuses for antisemitism and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts. DOJ said the Civil Rights Fraud Initiative will use the False Claim Acts, a law which previously has rarely been used against universities, to investigate if schools knowingly violated civil rights law while receiving federal funding. 'Institutions that take federal money only to allow anti-Semitism and promote divisive DEI policies are putting their access to federal funds at risk,' said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. 'This Department of Justice will not tolerate these violations of civil rights – inaction is not an option.' Schools that are found to violate the False Claim Acts could receive hefty fines, according to a staff memo, but extreme cases could lead to criminal prosecution. The initiative will be a combination of the department's Civil Fraud Section and Civil Rights Division. 'America has watched a tidal wave of anti-Semitism sweep our universities and seen public institutions codify inherently divisive policies like DEI at an unprecedented rate,' said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. 'The days of using federal funds to further discrimination are over,' he added. The Justice Department is encouraging anyone with 'knowledge of discrimination' to file a complaint under the False Claims Act. The initiative comes a week after the Justice Department announced it was investigating Harvard under the False Claims Act for its admission policies. It is also part of the Trump administration's larger campaign to pressure universities to eliminate DEI as it takes away billions of dollars in funding to institutions. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
20-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
DOJ targeting DEI campus initiatives under fraud law
The Department of Justice on Monday announced a new initiative aimed at going after university campuses for antisemitism and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts. DOJ said the Civil Rights Fraud Initiative will use the False Claim Acts, a law which previously has rarely been used against universities, to investigate if schools knowingly violated civil rights law while receiving federal funding. 'Institutions that take federal money only to allow anti-Semitism and promote divisive DEI policies are putting their access to federal funds at risk,' said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. 'This Department of Justice will not tolerate these violations of civil rights – inaction is not an option.' Schools that are found to violate the False Claim Acts could receive hefty fines, according to a staff memo, but extreme cases could lead to criminal prosecution. The initiative will be a combination of the department's Civil Fraud Section and Civil Rights Division. 'America has watched a tidal wave of anti-Semitism sweep our universities and seen public institutions codify inherently divisive policies like DEI at an unprecedented rate,' said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. 'The days of using federal funds to further discrimination are over,' he added. The Justice Department is encouraging anyone with 'knowledge of discrimination' to file a complaint under the False Claims Act. The initiative comes a week after the Justice Department announced it was investigating Harvard under the False Claims Act for its admission policies. It is also part of the Trump administration's larger campaign to pressure universities to eliminate DEI as it takes away billions of dollars in funding to institutions.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
DOJ to use False Claims Act to crack down on diversity initiatives at colleges
The Trump administration intends to use a civil anti-fraud law to investigate and potentially punish and withdraw federal funding from universities that promote diversity and inclusion policies, the Department of Justice announced Monday. In a memo, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said that the False Claims Act –– part of the government's establishment of the Civil Rights Fraud Initiative –– will be enforced 'when a federal contractor or recipient of federal funds knowingly violates civil rights laws.' Blanche in the memo cites antisemitism and certain access to women's sports on campuses as potential examples of when the False Claims Act could be implemented, describing such cases as discriminatory or assigning 'benefits or burdens' based on race and ethnicity. The Department of Justice will broadly seek fines and damages in cases where violations are found and will also consider criminal enforcement for certain breaches, the memo said. The False Claims Act dates to the Civil War and allows the government to recover funds up to three times the damages it incurs, in addition to penalties, lost due to fraud, according to the DOJ. The Justice Department's announcement is part of President Donald Trump's broader ambition to purge universities of diversity initiatives by withholding critical education funds. Dozens of schools across the country have already appeased the administration –– some abruptly ending DEI initiatives, laying off university staff and banning the use of words like 'equality' and 'gender,' which might trigger an uproar. Those efforts, however, haven't spared them from mass funding cuts. Attorney General Pamela Bondi, who last month issued a memo directing the DOJ to limit gender-affirming care for minors, backed the new initiative, warning universities that promote DEI policies that they are 'putting their access to federal funds at risk,' according to a statement. In an effort to restore its more than $2 billion in blocked federal funding, Harvard University in late April renamed its diversity, equity and inclusion office to the Office of Community and Campus Life. The school also said it wouldn't host or fund affinity group celebrations during commencement after the Department of Education threatened funding cuts if Harvard did not cancel graduation celebrations that could separate students by race. In a letter to Harvard last week, the Justice Department said the Trump administration was investigating whether the school's admissions process had been used to defraud the government by not complying with a Supreme Court ruling that ended affirmative action, according to The New York Times. The letter, which was reviewed by the Times, stated that the investigation was launched under the False Claims Act.
CNN
20-05-2025
- Politics
- CNN
DOJ to use False Claims Act to crack down on diversity initiatives at colleges
The Trump administration intends to use a civil anti-fraud law to investigate and potentially punish and withdraw federal funding from universities that promote diversity and inclusion policies, the Department of Justice announced Monday. In a memo, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said that the False Claims Act –– part of the government's establishment of the Civil Rights Fraud Initiative –– will be enforced 'when a federal contractor or recipient of federal funds knowingly violates civil rights laws.' Blanche in the memo cites antisemitism and certain access to women's sports on campuses as potential examples of when the False Claims Act could be implemented, describing such cases as discriminatory or assigning 'benefits or burdens' based on race and ethnicity. The Department of Justice will broadly seek fines and damages in cases where violations are found and will also consider criminal enforcement for certain breaches, the memo said. The False Claims Act dates to the Civil War and allows the government to recover funds up to three times the damages it incurs, in addition to penalties, lost due to fraud, according to the DOJ. The Justice Department's announcement is part of President Donald Trump's broader ambition to purge universities of diversity initiatives by withholding critical education funds. Dozens of schools across the country have already appeased the administration –– some abruptly ending DEI initiatives, laying off university staff and banning the use of words like 'equality' and 'gender,' which might trigger an uproar. Those efforts, however, haven't spared them from mass funding cuts. Attorney General Pamela Bondi, who last month issued a memo directing the DOJ to limit gender-affirming care for minors, backed the new initiative, warning universities that promote DEI policies that they are 'putting their access to federal funds at risk,' according to a statement. In an effort to restore its more than $2 billion in blocked federal funding, Harvard University in late April renamed its diversity, equity and inclusion office to the Office of Community and Campus Life. The school also said it wouldn't host or fund affinity group celebrations during commencement after the Department of Education threatened funding cuts if Harvard did not cancel graduation celebrations that could separate students by race. In a letter to Harvard last week, the Justice Department said the Trump administration was investigating whether the school's admissions process had been used to defraud the government by not complying with a Supreme Court ruling that ended affirmative action, according to The New York Times. The letter, which was reviewed by the Times, stated that the investigation was launched under the False Claims Act.
