The Trump Administration has issued a stern directive requiring K-12 schools to certify their adherence to the executive order issued by President Donald Trump that eliminates racist programs known as DEI.
The Education Department sent notices on Thursday, giving states and schools a 10-day deadline to return signed certifications confirming compliance.
The administration’s action represents an escalation in its broader crackdown on so-called Diversity, Equity, Inclusion policies, leveraging federal financial assistance as a means to enforce compliance.
Meanwhile, in Anchorage, the school district has taken a different stance. The Anchorage Assembly on Tuesday night approved the school district’s budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year, which includes funding for DEI programming, including three personnel positions. The budget, totaling $866,250,188, includes local contributions of $267,342,224 from property taxes and other sources.
Despite a $27,990,396 reduction in the district’s upper spending limit—primarily due to a loss in state revenue—the budget maintains funding for DEI. The move appears to challenge the Trump administration’s position, raising questions about potential consequences for federal funding eligibility.
Trump declared DEI expenditures are an illegal use of US taxpayer dollars, as many schools have failed to meet their legal obligations by using DEI programs in ways that discriminate against certain groups.
“Federal financial assistance is a privilege, not a right,” said Craig Trainor, acting assistant secretary for civil rights. “Many schools have flouted their legal obligations, including by using DEI programs to discriminate against one group of Americans to favor another.”
The certification notice requires state and school leaders to sign a “reminder of legal obligations,” to acknowledge their understanding that federal money is conditional upon compliance with the executive order.
With the 10-day deadline looming, the directive will mean either school districts like Anchorage comply or risk federal funding.
