What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the acronym DEI?
Regardless of your political affiliation, you’ve likely heard the term, fully known as Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, frequently debated in recent years.
As one of his main campaign promises, President Donald Trump began dismantling these policies on his first day in office.
On Jan. 20, 2025, Trump issued an executive order titled “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing,” in which he declared DEI as “illegal and immoral discrimination.”
In just nine words, the administration placed pressure on organizations across the country, threatening to rescind departmental funding if they didn’t comply.
On April 3, the Trump administration took the initiative one step further.
The U.S. Department of Education sent a letter giving state education chiefs 10 days to certify that they are not promoting DEI programs in their districts. The letter argues that DEI policies violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits race-based discrimination in federally funded programs.
“The use of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (“DEI”) programs to advantage one’s race over another—is impermissible,” the letter wrote.
The move is one attempt by the administration to combat the “pervasive and repugnant race-based preferences” that it claims have “toxically indoctrinated students,” as described in a Feb. 14 statement from the ED.
Former JCPS superintendent Marty Pollio declined to sign the April certification, instead writing a response citing the various programs within the district that comply with state and federal non-discrimination law — namely, the DEP.
Pollio’s decision positioned JCPS among one of only two Kentucky school districts that declined to sign the document.
JCPS created its Diversity, Equity and Poverty (DEP) department in the 1980s.
Catering to a county of 96,000 students, the DEP oversees a variety of services that existed long before DEI became a political buzzword. The programs in place operate as solutions to longstanding issues that continue to impact minority groups within JCPS.
However, this new federal directive places services essential to satisfy non-discrimination laws under scrutiny.
JCPS officials have emphasized that eliminating these services is not simple; many are mandated by federal law, designed to protect a diverse student population and ensure equal access to education.
As JCPS is already struggling with a budget crisis, a loss of federal funding is not something many wish to risk. So what is DEI, and why is this a hill JCPS is willing to die on?
