Early in Trump’s second term, the U.S. Department of Education sent a “Dear Colleague” letter to state education departments nationwide outlining the federal government’s stance against DEI. It said schools have “toxically indoctrinated students with the false premise that the United States is built upon ‘systemic and structural racism,'” creating DEI programs in response.
Trump officials argue those DEI programs — such as scholarships or hiring plans intending to boost racial diversity — are illegal and discriminatory against White and Asian people, in particular.
In February, the federal government directed states to sign an agreement on DEI, or risk losing federal funding. States were asked to certify that they won’t break antidiscrimination laws through the use of DEI programs.
Education officials in at least 25 states, including Wisconsin, refused.
Some Wisconsin districts took steps to comply anyway. They include the Green Bay School District, which removed mentions of diversityfrom job descriptions and policies, and several Fox Valley distircts.
Several lawsuits — including one Wisconsin joined as a plaintiff — have challenged the administration’s attempts to end DEI programs.
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Via Rick Esenberg.