The Trump administration has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to halt a lower court ruling that temporarily reinstated millions of dollars in federal education grants supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The request follows an ongoing legal battle over the administration’s decision to cancel grants deemed inconsistent with its policy priorities.
The dispute centers on the Teacher Quality Partnership (TQP) and Supporting Effective Educator Development (SEED) programs, which fund teacher training and professional development. In early February, the Education Department conducted a review of grant recipients, ultimately terminating 104 awards on the grounds that they supported DEI-related activities.
Eight states—California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, New York, and Wisconsin—challenged the decision, arguing that it violated the Administrative Procedure Act by failing to provide a transparent explanation for the cancellations. A federal judge in Massachusetts issued a temporary restraining order, requiring the government to reinstate the grants while the case proceeds.
The administration appealed to the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which upheld the lower court’s decision. In response, Acting Solicitor General Sarah Harris petitioned the Supreme Court, criticizing what she described as an overreach by district courts. “This court should put a swift end to federal district courts’ unconstitutional reign as self-appointed managers of Executive Branch funding and grant-disbursement decisions,” Harris wrote in the filing.
The administration has also sought Supreme Court intervention in separate legal battles over efforts to end birthright citizenship and the dismissal of thousands of federal employees. Officials argue that broad injunctions issued by district courts are undermining executive authority.
The Massachusetts lawsuit is one of multiple legal challenges against the administration’s crackdown on DEI-related funding. A separate federal court in Maryland also ordered the reinstatement of canceled grants for teacher-education programs. The administration contends that these overlapping rulings could complicate enforcement and limit its ability to align federal spending with its policy objectives.
The Supreme Court has yet to announce whether it will take up the case. Meanwhile, the Massachusetts court’s restraining order remains in effect until at least April 7, barring further grant cancellations in the affected states.
