On Thursday, February 27th, The U.S. Department of Education launched an online portal allowing parents, students, and educators to report what it describes as “illegal discriminatory practices” in K-12 public schools and higher education institutions. The initiative is part of the Trump administration’s effort to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in federally funded schools.
The portal, EndDEI.Ed.Gov, launched just before a department-imposed deadline for schools and universities to dismantle DEI-related policies or risk potential federal funding consequences. According to the department, the online form will help identify areas for investigation related to alleged race- or sex-based discrimination.
“The Department of Education will utilize community submissions to identify potential areas for investigation,” the website states, adding that submissions will remain confidential to the fullest extent permitted by law. The form requires users to provide details about the alleged discriminatory practice and the school district and ZIP code.
Tiffany Justice, co-founder of Moms for Liberty, welcomed the initiative, arguing that DEI policies have negatively impacted students. “DEI needs to go,” Justice told ABC News. “DEI has re-segregated our schools in many ways, and our children are forced to see race in ways that they never did.”
The launch follows an executive order signed by President Donald Trump last month directing federal agencies to eliminate DEI initiatives in hiring, contracting, and grant funding. The Education Department was instructed to ensure its policies align with the Supreme Court’s recent decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, which ruled race-based affirmative action in college admissions unconstitutional.
The initiative has drawn sharp criticism from education advocates, who argue that DEI programs help address historical inequities and expand opportunities for underrepresented students. The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) has filed a lawsuit against the Education Department, arguing that the crackdown on DEI violates free speech protections and could harm students and educators. The lawsuit claims the department’s recent directives are vague and unconstitutional.
The administration has signaled it will enforce the policy despite the legal challenges. The Education Department has not yet indicated how soon investigations based on the new portal’s submissions will begin.
