Empire State Rejects Trump's Anti-DEI Decree Despite Funding Threats

New York state officials have firmly rejected the Trump administration’s demand to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in public schools, despite threats to withhold federal education funding. In a letter dated Friday, Daniel Morton-Bentley, counsel and deputy commissioner of the New York State Education Department, made it clear that the state would not comply. “We understand that the current administration seeks to censor anything it deems ‘diversity, equity & inclusion,’” he wrote, adding, “But there are no federal or State laws prohibiting the principles of DEI.”

The Trump administration issued an order requiring all K-12 schools nationwide to certify, within 10 days, that they are in compliance with federal civil rights laws and are not engaging in DEI practices that allegedly discriminate “against one group of Americans to favor another.” This certification was presented as a condition for receiving federal education funds, which make up roughly 6% of New York’s K-12 school funding. “Federal financial assistance is a privilege, not a right,” stated Craig Trainor, acting assistant secretary for civil rights, justifying the administration’s aggressive stance.

However, Morton-Bentley challenged the legality of this move, stating that the U.S. Department of Education has no authority to make such demands or to withdraw funding without due process. “No further certification will be forthcoming,” he stated, emphasizing that New York had already affirmed its compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act as recently as January.

He also criticized the administration for its contradictory stance, referencing 2020 comments by then-Education Secretary Betsy DeVos who praised diversity and inclusion as essential to effective organizations. “The administration has provided no explanation of why it changed positions,” he noted.

New York’s defiance mirrors broader resistance from Democratic-led states that are pushing back against what many view as politically motivated threats. Critics say these new efforts, including recent actions targeting campus protests, contradict Trump’s campaign promise to give more control over education to local schools and state governments. The standoff continues as states like New York refuse to yield to what they see as unconstitutional overreach.

Link: AP News