Donald Trump targeting programs for Black students as ‘illegal’

The Trump administration has launched a wide-reaching campaign against diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in schools across the United States. The federal government is now investigating educational initiatives that were created to help Black students, calling these efforts discriminatory and potentially illegal. This marks a major shift from how the government has traditionally approached civil rights in education.

Federal courts have dealt significant blows to the administration’s efforts, with judges blocking key policies and funding threats. In August 2025, a federal judge struck down two major Trump administration actions that were designed to eliminate DEI programs from schools and universities. The judge found that the Education Department broke the law when it threatened to cut federal money from schools that continued with diversity initiatives.

According to The New York Times, the Trump administration is targeting programs for Black students as what it calls “illegal D.E.I.” The Education Department has opened investigations into Chicago Public Schools over its “Black Student Success Plan.” Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor said the administration “will not allow federal funds, provided for the benefit of all students, to be used in this pernicious and unlawful manner.”

Chicago’s Black Student Success Plan faces federal scrutiny

Chicago Public Schools released its Black Student Success Plan in February 2025, which aims to double the number of Black male teachers by 2029, reduce disciplinary actions against Black students, and add more Black history to classrooms. The plan was created after Illinois passed a law in 2023 that required the Chicago Board of Education to develop strategies to bring about academic equality between Black children and their peers.

The federal investigation is based on a complaint filed by Parents Defending Education (now “Defending Education”), a conservative group that argues the plan violates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act by focusing help only on Black students, even though students of all races struggle in Chicago schools. The group’s president, Nicole Neily, said the district made a “conscious decision to allocate finite resources to some students and not others.”

The controversy comes as the Trump administration works to dismantle what it sees as discriminatory practices in education. As of April 2025, 21 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico had agreed to sign certification documents saying they would not use DEI programs, while other states have pushed back against the administration’s demands. The federal government has also opened similar investigations into more than 50 universities across 41 states, targeting programs that help underrepresented students.

Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates defended the plan, saying it was created to address “the man-made educational achievement gap” for Black students. She called the federal investigation “yet another attempt to hinder the progress we are striving to achieve” and urged city leaders to protect students and schools from what she described as baseless attacks.

The investigation into Chicago is part of a broader pattern of federal action against school districts with programs aimed at helping minority students. The administration has also opened an investigation into Evanston-Skokie School District 65 in Illinois, based on complaints about racial equity policies and training programs. These cases could set important legal precedents that reach into schools and institutions across the country, as Trump continues his broader assault on educational institutions.