On April 15, 2025, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Education in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The suit challenges recent federal directives that threaten to withdraw funding from educational institutions implementing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. The NAACP contends that these actions violate civil rights by undermining equal educational opportunities for Black students and misinterpreting federal laws and Supreme Court rulings.

The dispute centers on a February 14, 2025, "Dear Colleague" letter issued by the Department's Office for Civil Rights. This letter instructed federally funded schools to cease race-based considerations in areas such as admissions, hiring, scholarships, and other programs, citing Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the 2023 Supreme Court decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, which ended race-conscious admissions. The Department followed up on April 3, 2025, demanding that schools certify their compliance with the new directives, with non-compliance potentially resulting in the loss of federal funding. This has led to the cancellation of DEI activities in some districts, such as Waterloo, Iowa.

NAACP President Derrick Johnson criticized the Department's actions, stating that they enable racial discrimination. The lawsuit argues that the Department's directives misinterpret federal civil rights law and threaten equal educational opportunities.

The NAACP's legal action is part of a broader response from civil rights organizations and educational institutions. A coalition of over sixty civil rights groups, including the Legal Defense Fund (LDF), Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC), and the National Women's Law Center, has called on the Department to rescind the "Dear Colleague" letter, arguing that it mischaracterizes federal civil rights law and threatens to undermine every student's right to fairly access educational resources.

State officials have also expressed resistance. In Illinois, officials have defied the Department's directives, arguing that their DEI efforts comply with federal and state laws and reflect core values. Mayor Brandon Johnson has threatened legal action against the Department, emphasizing the state's commitment to teaching Black history and culturally relevant curricula.

Legal challenges have been mounted by organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the National Education Association (NEA). On March 5, 2025, these organizations filed a lawsuit against the Department, challenging the "Dear Colleague" letter on grounds that it violates the First and Fifth Amendments by restricting speech and imposing vague legal restrictions. The lawsuit argues that the Department has overstepped its legal authority by imposing unfounded and vague legal restrictions that violate due process and the First Amendment, limiting academic freedom, and impermissibly dictating what educators can teach and what students are allowed to learn.

These developments occur amid a broader policy shift by the Trump administration to dismantle the Department of Education and return education authority to states. Critics argue that such moves threaten hard-won gains in educational access and civil rights protections. Civil rights groups, including the NAACP and the National Education Association, have filed a lawsuit arguing that the order is unconstitutional, as only Congress has the authority to disband the department created in 1979. Critics argue this move would leave marginalized communities vulnerable to discrimination and reduce oversight of essential educational programs, while supporters advocate for increased local control and the advancement of school choice.

The NAACP's lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Education underscores a significant legal and societal debate over the role of DEI programs in educational institutions. As this case progresses, it will likely have profound implications for educational policies, civil rights protections, and the broader discourse on race and inclusion in the United States.