The NAACP, in collaboration with the Legal Defense Fund (LDF), has initiated legal action against the U.S. Department of Education, alleging that recent directives to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in public schools constitute intentional discrimination against Black students.
Filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, the lawsuit challenges the Department’s February 14 “Dear Colleague” letter, which instructed federally funded schools to cease race-based considerations in areas such as admissions and scholarships. A subsequent April 3 directive demanded schools certify compliance, leading to funding losses and the cancellation of DEI activities in certain districts.
NAACP President Derrick Johnson criticized the move, stating that the Department, tasked with protecting civil rights in education, is instead undermining efforts to address systemic racism.
The lawsuit seeks to halt the enforcement of these directives, arguing they violate civil rights protections and jeopardize decades of progress toward educational equity. Advocates emphasize that DEI initiatives are critical for improving engagement and graduation rates among Black, Latino, and Native American students, particularly as schools face increasing racial segregation.
