New York tells Trump to pound sand as they refuse to end DEI programs despite millions in federal funding on the chopping block.
At a Glance
- The New York State Education Department has openly defied President Trump’s Executive Order to end DEI programs in schools.
- The Trump administration has threatened to cut off federal Title I funding to non-compliant schools and universities.
- Officials claim “there are no federal or state laws prohibiting the principles of DEI” despite Trump’s crackdown.
- Over 50 colleges are under federal investigation for alleged racial discrimination related to DEI initiatives.
- Columbia University has already seen $400 million in federal funding canceled as part of the administration’s enforcement efforts.
New York’s Defiant Stand Against Trump’s DEI Crackdown
While universities across America scramble to comply with President Trump’s sweeping Executive Orders against Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs, New York’s education officials have essentially told the federal government to take a hike.
In what can only be described as a reckless game of chicken with millions of dollars in federal funding, state education leaders have doubled down on their commitment to these controversial programs despite clear threats of severe financial consequences. This stubborn defiance puts New York students and their education in the crosshairs of an ideological battle they never asked to join.
The standoff centers on Trump’s executive orders requiring state education officials to eliminate what his administration considers unconstitutional DEI programs or face immediate suspension of federal Title I funding. Rather than carefully evaluating their programs or seeking compromise, New York’s education bureaucrats have chosen the path of maximum resistance, putting ideology above practical concerns like, you know, actually having money to run schools. When did protecting controversial race-focused programs become more important than ensuring schools can keep the lights on?
Legal Battle Lines Being Drawn
Daniel Morton-Bentley, deputy commissioner for legal affairs at the New York state education agency, embodied the department’s defiant attitude when he declared, “There are no federal or state laws prohibiting the principles of DEI.” This statement, while technically accurate in the narrowest sense, conveniently ignores the executive branch’s authority to establish conditions for federal funding. It’s typical bureaucratic doublespeak that amounts to saying, “We’ll keep doing whatever we want because we think we can get away with it legally.” When did compliance with the law become optional for government officials?
“There are no federal or state laws prohibiting the principles of DEI”, says Daniel Morton-Bentley
The department’s justification for these programs reveals their true agenda. They claim DEI initiatives “simply aim to level the playing field and redress the ongoing harms of segregation and centuries of legal inequity, exclusion and discrimination.”
Translation: They’re using your tax dollars to push a narrative that America remains fundamentally racist and requires government intervention to fix it. What happened to teaching kids math, science, and reading instead of turning them into social justice warriors? The focus has clearly shifted from education to indoctrination.
Real Consequences for Real Schools
This isn’t just political theater – real consequences are already hitting institutions that have doubled down on DEI. Columbia University has seen $400 million in federal funding canceled, affecting numerous research projects and programs. Seven other colleges are being investigated for allegedly awarding impermissible race-based scholarships, and dozens more are under scrutiny for partnerships with organizations like The PhD Project, which aims to increase diversity among business school faculty. The administration isn’t bluffing, and New York’s defiance could cost schools dearly.
“We understand that the current administration seeks to censor anything it deems ‘diversity, equity & inclusion’.”, concludes Morton-Bentley.
Notice how education officials frame this as “censorship” rather than a return to merit-based education. The administration isn’t saying diversity is bad – it’s saying programs that explicitly favor one race over another violate federal civil rights protections.
But apparently, that nuance is lost on Commissioner Betty Rosa and her team, who seem willing to sacrifice educational funding on the altar of progressive ideology. Meanwhile, New York schools continue to struggle with abysmal test scores and chronic absenteeism – problems that no amount of DEI training seems able to fix.
The Bottom Line
Let’s be honest about what’s happening here. This isn’t about ensuring equal opportunities for all students – it’s about preserving bureaucratic power and pushing a political agenda. If New York education officials truly cared about students, they’d work with the federal government to ensure schools retain critical funding while addressing legitimate concerns about racial preferences. Instead, they’ve chosen confrontation over cooperation, putting millions of dollars at risk. The ultimate losers in this political standoff will be the students who depend on properly funded schools, not the administrators making these reckless decisions from their comfortable offices.
