NAACP Files Federal Lawsuit to Protect Inclusive Education
The NAACP is taking the U.S. Department of Education to court, claiming that the Trump administration’s latest policies around diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are unconstitutional and discriminatory. Filed in Washington, D.C., the federal lawsuit argues that the administration is illegally threatening and cutting funding to schools that implement DEI programs, ultimately undermining Black students’ right to equal educational opportunities.
The complaint accuses the Department of promoting a misinterpretation of civil rights law to justify cracking down on “truthful, inclusive curricula” and initiatives that address racism and promote belonging. These actions, the NAACP says, violate both equal protection rights and protections against viewpoint discrimination under the U.S. Constitution.
Trump Targets DEI Programs as Federal Threats
DEI programs have been a consistent target of President Trump during his campaign and second White House term. His administration has made eliminating race-conscious policies a cornerstone issue, with a direct focus on public education systems and institutions receiving federal funding.
On February 14, the Education Department issued a “Dear Colleague” letter to schools, warning that any consideration of race in hiring, admissions, scholarships, graduation ceremonies, and other school operations would be in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This guidance pointed to the 2023 Supreme Court decision that struck down affirmative action policies at Harvard and other universities.
Then on April 3, the Department doubled down, demanding schools certify their compliance—effectively pressuring institutions to dismantle DEI programs or risk losing federal dollars.
Impact Already Felt in Schools Nationwide
Although a court ruling in New Hampshire temporarily delayed enforcement of the Department’s letter until April 24, the NAACP says damage has already been done. According to the lawsuit, schools across the country have either lost funding or pulled back DEI programs out of fear.
The suit highlights a notable example: the Waterloo, Iowa school district canceled a first-grade trip to the University of Northern Iowa’s African American Read-In, an event attended by more than 3,000 students across 73 schools.
NAACP President Derrick Johnson called out the hypocrisy of using civil rights law to justify eliminating inclusive education.
“Children of color consistently attend segregated, chronically underfunded schools where they receive less educational opportunities and more discipline,” Johnson said. “Denying these truths doesn’t make them disappear — it deepens the harm.”
Legal Battle Marks a New Chapter in Education Equity Fight
The lawsuit — NAACP v. U.S. Department of Education, No. 25-01120 — could become a key legal battle over how schools are allowed to teach, support, and serve Black students. While the Education Department has yet to comment, the case underscores growing national tensions over what equity in education should look like—and who gets to decide.
With Trump’s administration pushing to redefine civil rights laws to eliminate race-conscious education entirely, the NAACP says it’s fighting not just for funding, but for the future of truth-telling and justice in American classrooms.
