Washington, D.C. – The Trump administration has requested the Supreme Court to step in and overturn a lower court order that temporarily restored millions of dollars in federal education grants. These grants, which were canceled earlier this year, had funded programs that supported diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
The federal government argues that the lower court’s decision violates its authority to control funding and wants the Supreme Court to put the order on hold while the legal process continues.
Why Were the Grants Cancelled?
The grants in question were part of two federal programs:
- Teacher Quality Partnership (TQP)
- Supporting Effective Educator Development (SEED)
These programs aim to improve teacher training and quality in schools. But in February, the acting Education Secretary under the Trump administration ordered a review of all grant awards to remove funding for programs that promoted DEI values. The administration argues that DEI efforts are discriminatory and not in line with its policy goals.
Following the review, the Education Department canceled 104 grants.
Which States Challenged the Cancellations?
Eight states filed a lawsuit to stop the Trump administration from canceling the grants. These states are:
- California
- Massachusetts
- New Jersey
- Colorado
- Illinois
- Maryland
- New York
- Wisconsin
They said the grant terminations violated federal law — specifically the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), which requires federal agencies to give a clear and lawful explanation when changing or ending existing rules or decisions.
The states also pointed out that public and private universities, along with nonprofits, had already started using the grant money.
What Did the Lower Courts Say?
A federal district court in Massachusetts agreed with the states and issued a temporary restraining order (TRO). This TRO:
- Ordered the Department of Education to reinstate the canceled grants
- Blocked the department from canceling more grants for recipients in those states
- Was later extended to stay in place until April 7, 2025, while a longer-term decision is considered
A similar ruling was made by a federal court in Maryland, adding pressure on the administration.
Why Is the Trump Administration Appealing to the Supreme Court?
The administration, through Acting Solicitor General Sarah Harris, argues that:
- Lower courts are overstepping their limits by acting like decision-makers for executive funding
- The case involves contract disputes, and such cases should be handled by the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, not a district court
- The court orders wrongly force the government to spend money on programs it no longer supports
Harris also said the TRO is too broad, applying to all grant recipients in the eight states instead of only those directly involved in the lawsuit.
She urged the Supreme Court to stop district courts from forcing the Executive Branch to continue funding cancelled programs, claiming this could lead to the permanent loss of taxpayer money.
This case is the latest example of the Trump administration’s legal battle against DEI policies and efforts to limit federal court powers. While the grants were originally meant to improve education and support teacher development, the issue has now become a major political and legal conflict.
The Supreme Court’s decision could shape how much control future administrations have over federal grant funding — and whether courts can block policy changes they disagree with.