Nevada’s Capitol in downtown Carson City on Oct. 23, 2024.
Photo by Scott Neuffer.
Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford has announced on April 25 he joined a coalition of 19 attorneys general in filing a lawsuit challenging the U.S. Department of Education’s threat to withhold federal funding from educational agencies choosing to uphold diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.
The DOE informed education agencies April 3 they must accept the Trump administration’s interpretation of Title VI of the Civil Rights of 1964 or accept immediate loss of federal education funds. Title IV prohibits discrimination based on race, color or national origin.
Nevada refused to certify its compliance with the new requirements and deemed the Trump administration’s interpretation unlawful, according to a statement from the Attorney General’s Office.
The coalition seeks to bar the department from withholding funding.
Nevada receives almost $1 billion from the DOE in congressionally-mandated financial support for low-income families, special education services, teacher training, programming for non-native English speakers and children in foster care.
The letter received April 3 listed two options for states, which were to refuse certification of compliance or to certify compliance.
Nevada informed the DOE it would stand by its prior certifications of compliance with Title VI and its implementing regulations but would not assent to the DOE’s interpretation.