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 withhold 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 "Dear Colleague" letter issued by the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights on February 14, 2025. This letter instructed federally funded schools to cease using race-based considerations in admissions, hiring, promotions, scholarships, and other programs, citing Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Equal Protection Clause. The Department indicated that enforcement actions would begin 14 days from the letter's date. On March 1, 2025, the Department released a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) document to clarify the letter's directives. Subsequently, on April 3, 2025, the Department mandated that schools certify their compliance with these directives, warning that non-compliance could result in the loss of federal funding. This led to funding losses and the cancellation of DEI activities in some districts, such as Waterloo, Iowa.

NAACP President Derrick Johnson criticized the Department's move, stating that it enables racial discrimination. Assistant Counsel Katrina Feldkamp of the Legal Defense Fund emphasized that the Department's policies jeopardize decades of advancement toward educational equality. Craig Trainor, Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, stated that the Department will not allow educational institutions that receive federal funds to discriminate on the basis of race.

Over sixty civil rights organizations have called on the Department to rescind the "Dear Colleague" letter, asserting that it mischaracterizes federal civil rights law and threatens to undermine students' rights to access educational resources. Many schools and colleges have expressed confusion and concern over the directives. Some institutions have maintained their DEI programs, believing in their legal standing, while others have faced pressure to alter or eliminate such initiatives to avoid potential funding losses.

The NAACP's lawsuit represents a pivotal moment in the ongoing debate over diversity, equity, and inclusion in education. The outcome of this legal challenge could have far-reaching implications for how educational institutions implement DEI programs and navigate federal civil rights laws.