Oregon Schools Defy Trump’s Order to Dismantle DEI Programs Despite Billion-Dollar Federal Funding Threat

Oregon state schools will not kowtow to the Trump administration’s executive order to stop funding schools that refuse to shut down Diversity, Education, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

Schools Have Been Given a 10-Day Deadline to Comply

The U.S. Department of Education has given state schools nationwide 10 days to comply with the demands. But Charlene Williams, Oregon’s Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction and chief of state schools has made it clear that Oregon will not comply with the ultimatum.

In a letter to school leaders, Williams says there are no circumstances in which it is acceptable that resources meant for children’s education are used as a political tool.

Oregon Schools Receive $1 Billion Annually

Oregon schools depend on the $1 billion annual federal funding that represents 14% of the state’s education budget.

The ultimatum has come under the spotlight of Chalkbeat, a nonprofit news organization that covers articles affecting schools, with emphasis on those that historically lack access to quality education.

Federal Funding Makes Up 10% of K-12 School Budgets

Chalkbeat points out that federal funding represents 10% of the nationwide budgets of K-12 schools and comprises a larger share in high-poverty school districts. The threat coincides with budget preparations underway in many school districts and adds to growing concerns amid economic uncertainty.

The Department of Education is also demanding that states are in compliance with the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Students for Fair Admissions versus Harvard. The Supreme Court banned the use of race in college admissions.

Schools Will Be Complying With the False Claims Act

If schools sign the compliance agreement, state education officials will be promising that school districts in their jurisdictions are complying, making them liable for fraud under the False Claims Act if they request federal funds and are then found to be violating the law.

However, the former principal deputy assistant secretary in the Civil Rights Office of the Education Department, Seth Galanter, says that by invoking the False Claims Act, the administration appears to be threatening states and school districts with serious financial risks if they defend their diversity policies.

According to Chalkbeat, the Trump administration has extended its ruling to scenarios in which race is considered a factor in school admissions.

As an example, the publication says ‘dropping the use of test scores as an admissions criterion for a selective program with the hopes of increasing racial diversity or holding a separate graduation ceremony to recognize students of a particular ethnic group,’ could be considered as violating the law.