Trump administration asks SCOTUS to allow teaching grant cuts
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The US Department of Education headquarters in Washington, D.C, on March 12. Photo: Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images
The Trump administration on Wednesday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to pause a lower court's order to reinstate millions in federal education grants that were terminated on the basis of cuts to diversity, equity and inclusion-driven funding.
Why it matters: The solicitor general's appeal challenged the notion that district judges have jurisdiction over some executive branch actions — as judges across the country are flooded with lawsuits against President Trump's policies.
- "This case exemplifies a flood of recent suits that raise the question: 'Does a single district-court judge who likely lacks jurisdiction have the unchecked power to compel the Government of the United States to pay out (and probably lose forever)' millions in taxpayer dollars?" Sarah M. Harris, acting solicitor general, wrote in the appeal.
Zoom in: The Department of Education terminated 104 grants as "contrary to law or the Department's policy objectives." Five grants remained in place.
- The grants reviewed were all Teacher Quality Partnership (TQP), which supported high-quality teacher preparation and professional development, or Supporting Effective Educator Development (SEED) grants, meant to enhance educators' skills.
- Seven Department of Education personnel reviewed grant applications and terms, finding "objectionable DEI material in many of them," Harris, wrote.
- The department found this funding at odds with the administration's new rules.
Driving the news: A district court judge on March 10 ordered the government to immediately reinstate millions of dollars in federal grants that it terminated after eight states sued over the canceled funding.
What they're saying: The Trump administration's appeal to the Supreme Court argues that the district court lacked jurisdiction over the grants.
- "Federal courts generally lack jurisdiction to order the federal government pay money unless Congress 'unequivocally' waives the government's sovereign immunity," Harris wrote.
- "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.
What's next: Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson ordered the states that sued to respond to the government's filing by Friday.
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