In a recent move, the Trump administration has requested the Supreme Court’s intervention to revoke grants aimed at teacher preparation programs that the Education Department contends promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. The administration argued that it should not be obligated to allocate millions of dollars towards these programs while facing legal challenges from eight Democratic-led states seeking to retain them.
Acting Solicitor General Sarah Harris emphasized the urgency of the situation, characterizing it as part of a series of legal actions where a single District Court judge has been able to impede administration policies without sufficient oversight. Harris urged the Supreme Court to intervene promptly to prevent what she described as excessive interference from District Court judges.
The federal judge overseeing the case in Boston had previously ordered the Education Department to temporarily reinstate the grants for the affected states. The appeals court later rejected the administration’s plea to block this order, citing concerns over the lack of a coherent justification for terminating funding crucial for teacher recruitment and training in underserved communities.
The cancellation of these grants has raised fears of staff layoffs and disruptions to essential programs. California Attorney General Rob Bonta, along with a coalition of Democratic states attorneys general, highlighted the significant impact of losing these funds on initiatives training teachers for challenging positions and high-need schools.
The Education Department defended its decision to cut funding for teacher training programs, citing concerns over what it termed as “divisive ideologies,” including DEI, critical race theory, and anti-racism. The administration’s request to reduce these grants is now pending before the Supreme Court.
