Maryland Attorney General Secures Federal Funding Amidst Education Policy Dispute

Attorney General Anthony G. Brown has announced a significant agreement with the Trump administration that safeguards over $700 million in annual federal education funding for Maryland. This commitment prevents the federal government from withholding these critical funds from state and local education agencies that maintain diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. The agreement is particularly crucial for students with disabilities, who benefit from more than $250 million in specific federal aid.

The dispute arose when the U.S. Department of Education, on April 3, 2025, issued a directive requiring educational bodies to sign a document affirming the Trump administration’s new interpretation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 concerning DEI efforts. Failure to comply risked the immediate loss of federal education funding. Maryland, through its Attorney General’s office, provided written assurances that its practices fully align with Title VI and its existing regulations, but declined to accept the additional, perceived unlawful demands from the federal department.

In response to this federal pressure, Attorney General Brown, along with a coalition of 19 other state attorneys general, initiated legal action on April 25, 2025. Their lawsuit argued that the Department’s attempt to cut off federal education funds based on its revised interpretation of Title VI violated fundamental principles of federal law, including the Spending Clause, the Appropriations Clause, the separation of powers, and the Administrative Procedure Act. Concurrently, a separate lawsuit filed by other parties, American Federation of Teachers, et al. v. United States Department of Education, resulted in a favorable outcome for states, with a court vacating the April 3 certification request. The administration has since indicated it will not appeal this ruling.

The administration has now confirmed that the judicial relief obtained in the American Federation of Teachers case extends to schools within Maryland, thereby blocking any attempts to withhold funding based on the contested conditions. This outcome ensures the continuation of essential financial support that addresses a range of educational needs for children across the state. This includes vital funding for programs designed to assist students with disabilities, support low-income families in accessing quality education, enhance teacher training, and provide resources for English language learners. The coalition that joined Attorney General Brown in this effort comprises the attorneys general from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawai‘i, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the Maryland Attorney General’s Office

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