Education Department threatens to pull federal funding over DEI programs — But Utah’s likely in the clear

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — The U.S. Department of Education sent a letter Friday to state education departments across the nation — including the

Utah State Board of Education — giving them two weeks to cut all diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs or risk losing federal funding.

The letter, posted online by the Elon Musk-run Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), states that state education departments have 14 days to comply with “antidiscrimination requirements” or “face potential loss of federal funding.” DOGE said the letter was sent to education departments in all 50 states.

The Utah State Board of Education confirmed with ABC4 Sunday that its office did receive the letter from the Department of Education, but did not share additional commentary.

It is unclear at this time how this mandate might affect the Utah State Board of Education and programs throughout the state. However, while Utah’s schools could see changes over the next two weeks, they likely won’t be drastic as the state already restricted DEI programs last year.

In the 2024 Utah Legislative session, lawmakers voted to replace DEI programs in schools with Student Success Centers and ban all DEI-related initiatives and trainings. The Utah law went into effect on July 1, 2024, ahead of the fall school semester.

The Department of Education’s letter, which is more than 3 pages long, discusses racial discrimination and civil rights, as well as several culture war points such as critical race theory and DEI programs.

“Discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin is illegal and morally reprehensible. Accordingly, I write to clarify and reaffirm the nondiscrimination obligations of schools and other entities that receive federal financial assistance from the United States Department of Education,” the letter starts.

The letter proceeds to say that “educational institutions have toxically indoctrinated students with the false premise that the United States is built upon ‘systemic and structural racism’ and advanced discriminatory policies and practices.”

“In recent years, American educational institutions have discriminated against students
on the basis of race, including white and Asian students, many of whom come from
disadvantaged backgrounds and low-income families. These institutions’ embrace of pervasive and repugnant race-based preferences and other forms of racial discrimination have emanated throughout every facet of academia,” it says.

The letter is the latest in the Trump Administration’s fight against DEI programs which began only days after he was sworn into office with an executive order terminating all DEI programs in the federal workforce.