A coalition of educators and sociologists has filed a federal lawsuit challenging the U.S. Department of Education’s recent policy that threatens to withhold federal funding from schools and universities that do not comply with new guidelines by February 28. The lawsuit, brought by the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), AFT-Maryland, and the American Sociological Association, argues that the policy undermines civil rights laws and restricts academic freedom.
At the center of the legal challenge is a “Dear Colleague” letter issued by the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights on February 14. The letter warns that educational institutions could face funding cuts, investigations, and potential prosecutions if they continue to teach specific aspects of American history, including lessons on slavery, diversity, and inclusion. The plaintiffs contend that this directive is unconstitutional and poses a severe threat to public education by limiting what students are allowed to learn.
A Threat to Academic Freedom and Historical Accuracy
The lawsuit, filed in a Maryland federal court on February 25, argues that the new policy would effectively ban educators from teaching foundational aspects of U.S. history, including slavery, the Missouri Compromise, the Civil Rights Movement, Brown v. Board of Education, and the Voting Rights Act.
AFT President Randi Weingarten condemned the policy as a direct attack on educators and students.
“It’s our job as educators to foster opportunity, dignity, and engagement. We create safe and welcoming classrooms where students are cared for and accepted. We teach the skills and knowledge they need to navigate a diverse and complex world,” Weingarten said. “This vague and clearly unconstitutional memo is a grave attack on students, our profession, and knowledge itself. It would upend campus life and dash the promise of equal opportunity for all.”
The plaintiffs argue that the federal government cannot dictate curriculum content, as laws prohibit any president from deciding what schools and colleges teach.
Legal and Scholarly Opposition
Democracy Forward President and CEO Skye Perryman labeled the policy an “unlawful attempt to impose the administration’s political agenda” on America’s schools.
“The Department of Education’s new policy undermines our nation’s educational institutions. It is un-American and unlawful,” Perryman stated. “We will continue to pursue every legal opportunity to oppose and stop harmful attacks on freedom of expression and on the values like inclusion, diversity, and belonging that make us all and our nation stronger.”
AFT-Maryland President Kenya Campbell echoed these concerns, emphasizing the discriminatory impact of the directive.
“Trump’s Department of Education is undermining the freedom of every student in Maryland and across the country to learn honest history, stoking more fear and division in the classroom,” Campbell said. “We cannot meet the needs of every student if we cannot teach the diverse and complex history of every student.”
The American Sociological Association also joined the lawsuit, arguing that the policy limits the ability of scholars to study and teach racial and social issues.
“Sociologists examine society and group behavior, including race and racial inequality,” said American Sociological Association President Adia Harvey Wingfield. “This memo doesn’t just hinder sociologists from doing our jobs or merely violate our right to free speech—it inflicts a profound disservice upon students who gain from a more comprehensive understanding of the world.”
A Broader Fight Over Education and Civil Rights
The lawsuit represents a growing national battle over academic freedom, curriculum control, and civil rights protections in education. In recent years, educators and scholars have faced increasing political pressure over how race, history, and diversity are addressed in classrooms.
The outcome of this case could have far-reaching consequences for schools, colleges, and universities nationwide. If successful, the lawsuit could block the Department of Education from enforcing its policy, protecting federal funding for institutions that continue to teach an accurate and inclusive version of American history.
With the February 28 deadline looming, all eyes will be on the courts as the coalition of educators, scholars, and civil rights advocates fights to defend academic freedom and the right of students to learn the truth.
To read the entire lawsuit, click here.
