Rep. Summer Lee Calls on Dept. of Ed. to Rescind Threat of Cuts to Federal Funding for Schools with DEI Programs
WASHINGTON, D.C. – February 28, 2025 — Today, Congresswoman Summer Lee (PA-12), a member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, led 43 of her colleagues on a letter to the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights to rescind its letter threatening to remove federal funding for educational institutions and agencies that do not eliminate programs and activities related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. The Office of Civil Rights set a two-week deadline after it was initially sent.
“We write in strong opposition to the February 14th Dear Colleague letter, which threatens to remove critical federal funding from preschools, K-12 schools, higher education institutions, state educational agencies, and other entities if they do not eliminate programs and activities related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility,” the lawmakers wrote. “We urge the Office for Civil Rights to rescind the letter immediately.”
The letter also comes as the Department of Education launches an “End DEI” portal to receive reports of discrimination based on race or sex in publicly-funded K-12 schools.
“The…letter is yet another example of the concerted movement to dismantle educational opportunities for the most marginalized students and deny all students the shared benefits of educational experiences that equip them with the skills to think critically about and thrive in our multiracial and diverse democracy,” the lawmakers continued.
In their letter, the lawmakers urged the Office of Civil Rights to follow proper procedure for revoking federal funding.
“We also remind the Office for Civil Rights of its obligation to follow proper procedures before taking any steps to revoke federal funding. In addition to rescinding the Dear Colleague letter, we urge you to inform schools and educational agencies of their right to due process before losing federal funding,” the lawmakers wrote.
The letter was signed by Representatives Alma Adams, Yassamin Ansari, Nanette Barragán, Suzanne Bonamici, Shontel Brown, André Carson, Gilbert Cisneros, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Yvette D. Clarke, Steve Cohen, Jasmine Crockett, Danny K. Davis, Lloyd Doggett, Adriano Espaillat, Cleo Fields, Shomari Figures, Raúl Grijalva, Vicente Gonzalez, Jared Huffman, Jonathan Jackson, Sara Jacobs, Pramila Jayapal, Henry Johnson, Ro Khanna, Greg Landsman, John B. Larson, Betty McCollum, LaMonica McIver, Jerrold Nadler, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley, Delia Ramirez, Linda Sánchez, Mark Takano, Shri Thanedar, Rashida Tlaib, Jill Tokuda, Marc A. Veasey, Nydia Velázquez, Maxine Waters, Frederica S. Wilson.
The letter is endorsed by American Federation of Teachers (AFT), EdTrust, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) and the National Education Association (NEA).
A copy of the letter can be found below:
Since taking office in January 2023, Lee, who serves on the House Committee on Oversight and Reform and the Committee on Education and the Workforce, has delivered historic levels of federal investment totaling over $2.4 Billion brought back to Western PA, including over $580 million for infrastructure, over $110 million for affordable transit, over $500 million to keep clean energy manufacturing at home in Pennsylvania, and over $55 million on clean energy efforts in and around schools to help keep our kids and communities safe. These investments will help improve Western Pennsylvania’s infrastructure and transit, ensure cleaner air and drinking water, lower housing costs, fund research institutions, fuel clean manufacturing, fund STEM innovation and entrepreneurship, boost workforce development, and create thousands of good paying union jobs. Lee and her team have also delivered casework and constituent services to over 3,000 constituents with issues ranging from helping our seniors and disabled community access Medicare and social security to helping folks secure housing and helping families with immigration support and passports.