New Jersey Rejects Trump's DEI Mandate, Risks Federal Funding

The Trump administration has directed states and school districts to certify they are not using diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs that allegedly violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, threatening to withhold federal education funds for noncompliance. North Carolina and New Jersey are among the states pushing back, questioning the federal government's legal authority to impose new DEI-related certification requirements without formal rulemaking or clear definitions of what constitutes 'illegal DEI practices.' New Jersey officials argue that their schools already comply with Title VI through existing certifications and see no legal basis for additional demands, with Governor Phil Murphy and Education Commissioner Kevin Dehmer openly defying the federal request. North Carolina’s Superintendent Mo Green similarly contends that the federal Education Department cannot unilaterally change requirements or enforce ambiguous prohibitions. The standoff raises concerns about the potential loss of significant federal funding and could prompt further legal or political battles between states and the federal government. Federal officials maintain their request is simply to ensure compliance with existing civil rights laws, while critics see it as a politically motivated overreach targeting DEI initiatives.