Trump Administration Requests Supreme Court Intervention on Teacher Training Grants

Overview of the Case

On March 26, 2025, the Trump administration petitioned the Supreme Court to allow the freezing of millions of dollars in grants intended for states to address teacher shortages. The request comes amid concerns that these funds were being allocated to programs associated with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

Legal Arguments

Acting Solicitor General Sarah Harris argued before the Supreme Court that the case highlights a surge of lawsuits questioning whether district court judges have the authority to temporarily block federal policies. According to her, “This court should put a swift end to federal district courts’ unconstitutional reign as self-appointed managers of executive branch funding and grant-disbursement decisions.”

Background on the Grants

• In February, the Trump administration attempted to terminate 104 of the 109 grants awarded to programs training teachers in underserved schools.
• Following an order from a federal judge in Boston that temporarily blocked the termination, the administration issued minimal notice to grant recipients without providing detailed evidence of DEI involvement.
• The case is part of broader legal disputes concerning the Trump administration's approach to DEI initiatives.

Next Steps

The federal district court has scheduled a hearing for the case on Friday. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson has ordered the states involved in the lawsuit to respond by the same day.