US Education Department removes rules against discrimination, civil rights groups condemned move

The US Education Department announced Thursday it is removing "disparate impact" regulations, which have for decades prohibited policies and practices that have discriminatory effects, often unintentionally. The move has drawn sharp condemnation from 60 civil rights and education groups, who called the regulations crucial for protecting students from systemic discrimination based on race, color, and national origin.

This action aligns with President Donald Trump's broader initiative against diversity programs, which he has characterized as anti-merit and discriminatory against groups like white people and men. Civil rights advocates have voiced concerns that these changes undermine social progress and dismantle measures designed to support marginalized communities, including ethnic minorities, women, and the LGBT community.

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The left's notion of 'equity' should never prevent teachers from keeping their classrooms and students safe. With these changes, schools will be empowered to address classroom issues without fearing the federal government will weaponize anti-discrimination laws.

The Education Department defended the removal, asserting that disparate impact rules had hindered schools' ability to manage disruptive minority students and encouraged racial balancing. Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey stated, "The left's notion of 'equity' should never prevent teachers from keeping their classrooms and students safe. With these changes, schools will be empowered to address classroom issues without fearing the federal government will weaponize anti-discrimination laws."

However, the protesting rights groups countered that the regulations are essential for safeguarding against policies like school closures and discipline measures that, while appearing neutral, disproportionately harm Black, Native American, Hispanic, Asian American, and Pacific Islander students. They emphasized that the "disparate impact tool" is designed to eliminate unjustified educational barriers and ensure equal opportunities for all students.

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The disparate impact tool is designed to remove unjustified barriers in education and ensure that all students have an equal opportunity to learn and succeed.