Supreme Court Allows Trump Administration To Freeze $65 Million In DEI Teacher Grants

In a 5–4 emergency ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court has allowed the Trump administration to halt distribution of approximately $65 million in teacher training grants tied to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. The decision temporarily lifts a lower court order that had required the Department of Education to resume the grants in eight states.

The ruling is not a final decision on the matter but marks a key development in the broader legal dispute over the future of federal DEI-related spending. The court wrote in its ruling:

“Respondents have represented in this litigation that they have the financial wherewithal to keep their programs running. So, if respondents ultimately prevail, they can recover any wrongfully withheld funds through suit in an appropriate forum.”

In a 5–4 emergency ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court has allowed the Trump administration to halt distribution of approximately $65 million in teacher training grants tied to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. The decision temporarily lifts a lower court order that had required the Department of Education to resume the grants in eight states.

Mar 22, 2025; Philadelphia, PA, USA; President Donald Trump during the Division I Men’s Wrestling Championship held at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
The ruling is not a final decision on the matter but marks a key development in the broader legal dispute over the future of federal DEI-related spending. The court wrote in its ruling:

“Respondents have represented in this litigation that they have the financial wherewithal to keep their programs running. So, if respondents ultimately prevail, they can recover any wrongfully withheld funds through suit in an appropriate forum.”

The Hill reported that the case could eventually return to the Supreme Court for a final ruling, depending on how the lower courts handle the ongoing litigation.

The affected grants are part of a larger set of DEI initiatives that have come under scrutiny during President Donald Trump’s second term. In January, Trump signed an executive order titled “Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs And Preferencing,” directing agency and department heads to shut down DEI-related offices, programs, grants, and personnel.

The order instructed all federal agencies to:

“terminate, to the maximum extent allowed by law, all DEI, DEIA, and ‘environmental justice’ offices and positions (including but not limited to ‘Chief Diversity Officer’ positions); all ‘equity’ actions, initiatives, or programs, ‘equity-related’ grants or contracts; and all DEI or DEIA performance requirements for employees, contractors, or grantees.”