The Trump Administration has dropped its appeal of a federal court ruling that blocked the U.S. Department of Education’s (ED) anti–diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) campaign, leaving the lower court’s decision in effect. The dispute arose when ED issued a Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) in early 2025 that warned higher education institutions they could lose federal funding if they engaged in a broad range of practices labeled as DEI, including hosting events, choosing curriculum, considering race in admissions, hiring practices, issuing scholarships, or other activities. U.S. District Judge Stephanie Gallagher struck down both actions, ruling that the Administration’s guidance/DCL violated the First Amendment and federal procedural rules by “suppressing lawful and beneficial speech.”