ISTANBUL

A US federal judge on Thursday permanently blocked two Trump administration directives that sought to cut funding for schools and universities over diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs.

US District Judge Stephanie Gallagher ruled that the Education Department violated the law by threatening to withhold federal funding from schools and universities that maintained DEI initiatives.

Earlier this year, the Trump administration warned universities and schools to end DEI programs or risk losing funding, prompting a lawsuit from education and civil rights groups who argued the directives were unlawful and improperly issued.

Gallagher, a Trump appointee, ordered the Education Department to revoke its anti-DEI guidance, ruling that it violated procedural requirements.

“The government did not merely remind educators that discrimination is illegal. It initiated a sea change in how the Department of Education regulates educational practices and classroom conduct, causing millions of educators to reasonably fear that their lawful, and even beneficial, speech might cause them or their schools to be punished,” she said.

Since taking office in January, the second Trump administration has targeted several prominent universities, claiming that they continue to pursue "woke" policies promoting diversity, equity and inclusion, despite President Donald Trump's assertion that such policies are discriminatory and illegal. It has threatened to withdraw government funding for such universities, among other actions.