The decision by the Department of Education (DGE) to terminate funding for scholars, writers, research institutions and other humanities organizations was ruled to have violated the US constitution’s first amendment, which provides free speech rights, and its fifth amendment’s equal protection component.
Donald Trump ’s administration terminated more than 1,400 grants, representing more than $100m in congressionally appropriated funds awarded to scholars, writers, research institutions and other humanities organizations.
The judge said the terminations violated the US constitution’s first amendment, which provides free speech rights, and its fifth amendment’s equal protection component. The ruling also said Doge did not have the legal authority to terminate the grants.
“What mattered to DOGE was not whether a grant lacked scholarly merit, failed to comply with its terms, or fell outside NEH’s statutory purposes. What mattered was that the grant concerned a ’minority group’,” the judge wrote.
“DOGE swept in race and ethnicity – including grants concerning Black, Asian, Latino, and Indigenous communities – as well as national origin and immigration status; religion and religious identity ; sex; and sexual orientation, as criteria for grant termination. ”to come up with the rationale to terminate some grants would not absolve the government of responsibility for its decisions.
“The government cannot escape liability for DOGE’s work by scapegoating ChatGPT,” the judge wrote. Rights advocates have raised concerns about Trump’s attacks on educational and arts institutions, diversity initiatives, and historical places and museums, saying they could undo decades of social progress and undermine acknowledgement of critical phases of American history.
Trump has alleged that many cultural, arts and educational institutions and bodies are a bastion of liberalism and “anti-American” values that do not portray US history in a positive light. He has made threats to cut their federal funding over pro-Palestinian protests against US ally Israel’s assault on Gaza, transgender policies, climate initiatives and diversity programs.
His targets have ranged from elite universities, the Smithsonian Institution and the Kennedy Center to broadcasters including National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting Service.
US Constitution First Amendment Rights Equal Protection Clause US Department Of Education Department Of Defense Minority Groups Race Ethnicity National Origin Immigration Status Religion Sex Sexual Orientation Educational Institutions Diversity Initiatives Historical Places Wilkes Bartlow Lee Jr. Institute Of The Humani Daniel Hale Williams National Historical Site National Endowment For The Humanities National Park Service National Scientist Engineer And Public Health Service Medal National Service Long-Term Commitment Medal National Teaching Fellowship American Association Of University Women National Association For The Advancement Of Co Women In The Humanities Initiative National Council For The Social Studies American Institute For Public Service History And Politics Political Rhetoric Threats Colonial Colleges And Universities Movement Academics And Scholarship Funding Cut Threats US History Acknowledgement
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