Nevada Attorney General Leads Lawsuit Against Education Department Over Funding Threat
In a significant legal battle, Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford has joined a coalition of 19 attorneys general in a lawsuit challenging the U.S. Department of Education’s threat to cut federal funding linked to compliance with new diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) directives. The lawsuit, filed in Massachusetts, accuses the Trump administration of unlawfully coercing states to adhere to its controversial interpretations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Ford stated, "The Trump administration is attempting to deny federal funding for our children’s education if we do not comply with a legally incomprehensible order." The lawsuit seeks to prevent the Education Department from enforcing its April 3 directive, which requires states to certify compliance or risk significant funding cuts.
The department’s recent communication warned state agencies that failure to adopt its interpretation of civil rights laws could jeopardize essential educational funds. In Nevada, where nearly $1 billion in federal education funds is at stake, officials argue that the directive’s vagueness makes compliance impossible without exposing the state to litigation and undermining programs designed to protect students.
The coalition contends that the administration’s actions place states in a difficult position: comply with ambiguous federal demands or risk losing critical resources, including support for students with disabilities and low-income families.
Linda McMahon, Secretary of Education, has stated that noncompliance could lead to funding cuts, emphasizing that the goal of the certification form is to eliminate discrimination in schools. As the lawsuit unfolds, the plaintiffs assert that this situation poses an alarming threat to the educational opportunities and rights of vulnerable student populations across the nation.
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