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By Kanishka Singh
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Education Department warned on Thursday it would withhold federal funds from public schools and take legal actions if they continued with diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives that the administration of President Donald Trump has attempted to dismantle.
In letters sent to top state education officials, the federal Education Department said public schools that continue with DEI "may incur substantial liabilities, including the potential initiation of litigation for breach of contract by the Department of Justice."
The letter said state officials have 10 days to sign a document certifying their schools are in "compliance with their anti-discrimination obligations."
Since taking office on January 20, Trump has taken multiple steps to dismantle DEI in the government and private sector, including through executive orders, threats to suspend federal funding and firing of those who worked in such initiatives in the government.
Civil rights advocates say DEI efforts help uplift marginalized groups and address the continued effects of historical and generational inequity. They have condemned the Trump administration. Trump and his allies say DEI unfairly discriminates against groups such as white people and men.
"Federal financial assistance is a privilege, not a right. When state education commissioners accept federal funds, they agree to abide by federal anti-discrimination requirements," the Education Department said, while announcing the letters sent to state commissioners overseeing K-12 state education agencies.
In mid-February, the Trump administration warned of funding cuts to academic institutions over DEI. Later that month, the U.S. Education Department launched a portal called "End DEI" where the public could complain about DEI initiatives in publicly-funded K-12 schools.
The Trump administration has also threatened universities and colleges with withholding federal funds over other issues like transgender policies and pro-Palestinian protests against U.S. ally Israel's military assault on Gaza.
(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Nia Williams)
