A federal court in Maryland on 14 Aug. permanently invalidated two Trump-era guidance memos that sought to end diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives at U.S. schools and universities. U.S. District Judge Stephanie Gallagher, a Trump appointee, ruled the Education Department acted unlawfully when it threatened to strip federal funds from institutions that continued DEI programs, saying the agency bypassed procedures Congress requires for major policy changes. The guidance, issued on 14 Feb. and again in April, ordered schools to halt all “race-based decision-making” and required states to certify compliance or risk total loss of federal aid and possible False Claims Act liability. Gallagher said the directives marked “a sea change” in how the department regulates classroom conduct and left educators fearing punishment for lawful speech. Her decision came in a lawsuit filed by the American Federation of Teachers and the American Sociological Association. While the judge took no position on the substance of DEI policies, she concluded the department’s approach violated administrative-procedure rules and constitutional safeguards. The Education Department said it is disappointed and is reviewing its options, adding that the ruling does not curtail its ability to enforce Title VI civil-rights protections.