A federal judge on Thursday nullified two Trump-era directives that sought to curtail diversity, equity and inclusion programs at the nation’s schools and universities. U.S. District Judge Stephanie Gallagher of Maryland ruled that the Education Department acted unlawfully when it threatened to cut federal funds from institutions that maintained DEI initiatives. Gallagher granted summary judgment to the American Federation of Teachers, the American Sociological Association and other plaintiffs, finding that the department’s February 14 “Dear Colleague” letter and a related certification requirement were issued without the notice-and-comment procedures mandated by the Administrative Procedure Act and infringed constitutional protections under Title VI. The vacated guidance had ordered states, school districts and colleges to abandon what the administration called “race-based decision-making” or risk the total loss of federal education aid. Thursday’s decision declares both documents void and bars the government from enforcing similar measures. The Education Department contended the directives merely interpreted recent Supreme Court rulings on affirmative action, but the unions argued they would have dismantled long-standing programs intended to foster campus diversity. Gallagher’s order preserves access to multicultural centers, mentoring schemes and other DEI activities that had been placed in jeopardy.