Today, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issued a preliminary injunction blocking the enforcement of a certification requirement from the U.S. Department of Education that threatens schools with a loss of federal funding based on harmful misinterpretations of civil rights laws, threatening Black students’ equal access to a quality education.
On April 15, 2025, the Legal Defense Fund (LDF), on behalf of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), challenged a series of factually and legally inaccurate directives from the Department, including a Feb. 14 “Dear Colleague” letter, a Feb. 28 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document, and a certification requirement issued on April 3.
The documents have already caused irreparable harm to the NAACP and its members in violation of their constitutional rights, chilling, or wholly depriving them of lawful efforts to ensure Black students have an equal opportunity to compete for selective programs, have access to inclusive and truthful curricula, and can benefit from programs and policies that foster a sense of belonging. Today, the court ruled that the NAACP’s claim that the certification requirement was unconstitutionally vague in violation of the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution was likely to be successful, and halted enforcement of the certification requirement.
“Our fight is far from over, but today’s decision is a victory for Black and Brown students across the country, whose right to an equal education has been directly threatened by this Administration’s corrosive actions and misinterpretations of civil rights law,” said Derrick Johnson, President and CEO of the NAACP. “We look forward to prevailing against their cruel attempts to undermine the mission of the U.S. Department of Education and relegate children of color, students with disabilities, and poor students to a second-class education in a throwback to the era before Brown v. Board of Education.”
“Today’s decision affirms our client’s argument that the Trump Administration is causing unnecessary and unconstitutional harm to Black and Brown students,” said Katrina Feldkamp, Assistant Counsel at the Legal Defense Fund. “Every student in this country deserves equal access to a quality education, which must include inclusive and welcoming environments for all. We are thankful the court has granted the NAACP, its members, and parents and students across the country relief from this Administration’s attacks on their ability to learn and thrive.”
Read the order blocking the certification requirement here.
Read the oral ruling here.
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Founded in 1940, the Legal Defense Fund (LDF) is the nation’s first civil rights law organization. LDF’s Equal Protection Initiative seeks to defend and advance the proper interpretation of the Equal Protection Clause and anti-discrimination law so that we can all continue to advance equal opportunity for all. LDF’s Thurgood Marshall Institute is a multi-disciplinary and collaborative hub within LDF that launches targeted campaigns and undertakes innovative research to shape the civil rights narrative. In media attributions, please refer to us as the Legal Defense Fund or LDF. Please note that LDF has been completely separate from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) since 1957—although LDF was originally founded by the NAACP and shares its commitment to equal rights.
