Supreme Court Backs Trump on DEI Grant Termination

Key Points

• • The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 to allow the Trump administration to terminate teacher training grants linked to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
• • This decision overturns a previous ruling by a Massachusetts judge, which stated the administration failed to follow proper legal procedures.
• • Approximately $65 million in grant payments are currently outstanding, with the administration arguing that recipients would not suffer irreparable harm.
• • Chief Justice John Roberts and three liberal justices dissented, with Roberts indicating he would have denied the application without providing reasons.
• • Justice Elena Kagan criticized the majority's decision as under-developed and suggested the case should have been heard through normal legal processes.
• • The grants in question were part of programs aimed at enhancing teacher quality and supporting effective educator development.
• • The Education Department canceled the grants in February, claiming they violated Trump's executive order against DEI initiatives.
• • Eight states, including California and Massachusetts, filed a lawsuit claiming the terminations violated the Administrative Procedure Act.
• • The majority opinion stated the states must pursue their claims in a federal claims court instead of the district court.
• • California stood to lose at least $148 million due to the grant terminations, impacting programs designed to recruit qualified teachers, especially in underserved areas.
• • The court's ruling marks Trump's first significant victory in the Supreme Court during his second term.
• • The administration previously sought emergency interventions in other cases but faced setbacks in prior applications.