Lawsuit claims Trump\u2019s orders violate the constitution and cause confusion and disruptions on college campuses<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Higher education groups, including college professors and university diversity officers, are suing the Trump administration<\/a> over its executive orders eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) positions in government and the president\u2019s threats to suspend funding to institutions because of their DEI policies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Education officers and organizations are teaming up with non-profits and local governments to challenge the executive orders. The basis of the lawsuit filed on Monday<\/a> is the stance that Trump\u2019s orders violate the US constitution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere\u2019s two fundamental layers to this,\u201d Todd Wolfson, president of American Association of University Professors (AAUP),said. \u201cOne is that we must push back against serious political intrusion into higher education because it must maintain its own independence.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe second level is the core layers of importance that DEI plays in higher education. It\u2019s about making sure that higher education is accessible to everyone, and also making sure that we teach and emphasize issues that have been, in many ways, hidden in the past.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The suit, filed in the US district court in Maryland, claims that the orders have already caused confusion and disruptions on college campuses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIn the United States, there is no king,\u201d the suit says. \u201cThe President can exercise only those powers the Constitution grants to the executive, and only in ways that do not violate the rights the Constitution grants to the American people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIn his crusade to erase diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility from our country, President Trump cannot usurp Congress\u2019s exclusive power of the purse, nor can he silence those who disagree with him by threatening them with the loss of federal funds and other enforcement actions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The American Association of University Professors and the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education, along with other groups, argue that Trump\u2019s orders exceed executive legal authority. They also allege that the orders violate both the first and fifth amendments and threaten academic freedom and access to higher education for everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Trump\u2019s orders on DEI<\/a> mandate that the Department of Education and other agencies must recommend measures to encourage an end to what they call \u201cillegal discrimination and preferences, including DEI\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Paulette Granberry Russell, the president and CEO of the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education, said in a statement to the Guardian that this lawsuit is a \u201cnecessary stand against unconstitutional overreach and political interference\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThese executive orders directly attack free speech, academic freedom, and the fundamental principles of diversity, equity and inclusion, values that are essential to a strong democracy and a thriving, globally competitive workforce,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis legal challenge is a necessary step to prevent further erosion of equity-based programs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The president has threatened civil investigations and significant cuts to funding for schools if the institutions fail to comply, which would probably result in further depleting resources for many areas of research, including health<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wolfson explained how the recent federal funding freeze already had an impact on institutional studies: \u201cAt this moment, the freeze is affecting primary research on health issues like cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer\u2019s and heart disease. This is research that the health of Americans is dependent on.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The plaintiffs involved in this DEI case are represented by Democracy Forward, the same legal group that was able to successfully challenge the federal funding freeze.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis is about the future of democracy in this country,\u201d Wolfson said. \u201cOne of the many things that fascist administrations do when they\u2019re taking power is they go in and try to take control of higher education.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He added: \u201cWe will fight it every step of the way, legally, politically, and our members will be out in the street pushing back. There\u2019s no way we will let them undermine higher education in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n