The Trump administration is fundamentally shifting federal civil rights enforcement in education, targeting programs aimed at addressing historic inequities for Black students as discriminatory against white students. This marks a reversal of decades of policy.
- The Education Department has opened investigations into programs in Rhode Island, Iowa, Chicago, and Los Angeles. - The Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against Los Angeles Unified School District's PHBAO program, which provides resources to schools with high percentages of students of color.
- Critics argue these actions undermine efforts to close achievement gaps and harm entire school communities. The administration defends its actions, stating that federal funding must follow laws prohibiting race-based discrimination, but advocates worry schools will preemptively end equity programs to avoid scrutiny.