NAACP Files Lawsuit Against the Department of Education, Challenging Termination of Crucial Funding
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 9, 2025
Contact: Chyna Fields, cfields@naacpnet.org
WASHINGTON – Yesterday, the NAACP, Mid-Atlantic Equity Consortium, Inc. (MAEC) and Legal Defense Fund (LDF) filed a federal lawsuit against the Department of Education challenging its recent move to eliminate the federal equity assistance center program (EAC Program) – a grant that has assisted state education agencies, school districts, and students – promoting equal education opportunities since 1964.
The lawsuit references the Department of Education's action, which took place in February, to abruptly terminate the EAC program and funding to MAEC and other grantees. Eliminating this funding deprives grantees of the resources needed to continue working with schools to prevent and remedy discrimination on the basis of race, national origin, gender, and religion.
"For so many Black students across our nation, EAC programs serve as a vital pathway to ensuring they can access the critical resources they need to thrive in classrooms and beyond," said Derrick Johnson, President and CEO of the NAACP. "In addition to providing technical assistance to students and teachers, these programs support school communities to abide by desegregation orders and to foster equitable, inclusive learning environments. We stand here today with unwavering support for our students, teachers, and school communities — knowing that the innumerable barriers they've already faced as a result of these grant terminations are an affront to their right to access equal opportunity in education."
The lawsuit asserts that the Department of Education's move to terminate the equity assistance centers is a part of President Trump's unlawful and discriminatory attack on so-called "diversity, equity, and inclusion" initiatives. The Department's actions ignore the federal government's obligations under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Education Amendments of 1972, and other anti-discrimination laws to provide schools with critical technical assistance to prevent discrimination.
"The Department of Education's termination of the EAC program is a dangerous and misguided attempt to roll back decades of progress towards civil rights and equal opportunity in public education," said Katrina Feldkamp, LDF Assistant Counsel. "The EAC program is critical to ensure that Black students, low-income students, and other students of color can access the resources they need to thrive. Ending our client's grant under the guise of opposing programs that advance diversity, equity, and inclusion is a betrayal of the law's intent and the communities it was designed to protect."
"The dismantling of the Equity Assistance Centers — the nation's oldest education technical assistance program — marks a profound retreat from our civil rights commitments. For decades, these centers have served as a cornerstone in the fight for equal educational opportunity, supporting states, districts, and schools in confronting racial, gender, religion, and national origin discrimination," said Susan Shaffer, President of MAEC.
The NAACP has, for decades, been a national leader in the fight for equitable education for all students. Now more than ever, students need additional support, not a rolling back of resources which have been instrumental for so long. The Trump Administration must be held accountable for actively working against the success of our nation's children.
To view the full complaint, visit our website.
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About NAACP
The NAACP advocates, agitates, and litigates for the civil rights due to Black America. Our legacy is built on the foundation of grassroots activism by the biggest civil rights pioneers of the 20th century and is sustained by 21st century activists. From classrooms and courtrooms to city halls and Congress, our network of members across the country works to secure the social and political power that will end race-based discrimination. That work is rooted in racial equity, civic engagement, and supportive policies and institutions for all marginalized people. We are committed to a world without racism where Black people enjoy equitable opportunities in thriving communities.
NOTE: The Legal Defense Fund – also referred to as the NAACP-LDF - was founded in 1940 as a part of the NAACP, but now operates as a completely separate entity.