New York state officials have told the Trump administration that they will not comply with its demands to end diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices in public schools, despite the administration’s threats to terminate federal education funding.
The Associated Press reports that Daniel Morton-Bentley, counsel and deputy commissioner of the state Department of Education, said in a letter to the federal Education Department that state officials do not believe the federal agency has the authority to make such demands.
“We understand that the current administration seeks to censor anything it deems ‘diversity, equity & inclusion,’” he wrote. “But there are no federal or State laws prohibiting the principles of DEI.”
Morton-Bentley also wrote that state officials were “unaware” of any authority the federal Department of Education has to demand that states agree with its interpretation of court decisions or to terminate funding without a formal administrative process.
The U.S. Department of Education did not respond to requests for comment.
The Trump administration has ordered K-12 schools nationwide to certify within 10 days that they are following federal civil rights laws and ending any discriminatory DEI practices, as a condition for receiving federal money.
Federal funding comprises about 6% of the total funding for New York K-12 schools.
Critics of the Trump administration's certification demand say it conflicts with Trump’s promise to return education to schools and states.
