NEW YORK, NY (April 25, 2025) — New York Attorney General Letitia James, alongside California Attorney General Rob Bonta, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, will announce a new lawsuit aimed at protecting schools and students during a virtual press conference today at 4:30 p.m.
The attorneys general will outline the details of the legal action, which focuses on defending educational institutions and the students they serve. The announcement will be live-streamed on oag.ca.gov.
UPDATE:
Trump Administration Sued Over Education Funding Cuts
NEW YORK, NY (April 26, 2025) — New York Attorney General Letitia James led a coalition of 19 attorneys general in filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration on Friday, challenging its requirement for states to end diversity, equity, and inclusion practices in K-12 schools to secure billions in federal education funding.
The lawsuit, filed in response to an April 3 directive from the United States Department of Education, claims the administration’s mandate is illegal and unconstitutional. The directive required state education agencies to certify within ten days, later extended to April 24, that they would not engage in undefined “illegal” diversity, equity, and inclusion practices to continue receiving federal funds. New York, among other states, refused to sign the certification, citing its commitment to civil rights laws.
“Every student has the fundamental right to learn in an environment that is welcoming and open to everyone,” James said. “The Trump administration is illegally trying to stop efforts that prevent discrimination in our schools, support students with disabilities, and provide resources for students in need while kindizing billions of dollars in essential federal education funding.”
The New York State Education Department receives over $3 billion annually from the Education Department, supporting more than 2.4 million students. This includes nearly $1.4 billion in Title I funds for low-income students and $1 billion under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act for over 450,000 students with disabilities. Districts like Rochester and Buffalo rely on federal funds for over 17% of their revenue, while Syracuse and Binghamton depend on over 14%.
The lawsuit argues that the Trump administration’s failure to define “illegal” diversity, equity, and inclusion practices creates ambiguity. It notes that Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, during her confirmation hearing, could not define these terms or explain how schools could identify prohibited programs.
The coalition, which includes attorneys general from California, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and 14 other states, asserts that the directive violates the Administrative Procedure Act, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and federal laws prohibiting interference with state education policies. It also claims the policy unconstitutionally withholds congressionally appropriated funds.
The lawsuit seeks a court order to block the Education Department from enforcing the April 3 certification demand or similar requirements.
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