Teacher Educators Sue Trump Administration Over Cancelled Grants

Three teacher education associations have sued over a recent move by the Trump administration cancelling training grants it suspected promoted “divisive” diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives

The terminations hit three programs for developing educators—the Teacher Quality Partnership Program, the Supporting Effective Educator Development Program, and the Teacher and School Leader Incentive Program, according to the associations’ lawsuit filed Monday in the US District Court for the District of Maryland.

The associations say the Trump administration failed to follow a regulation governing the termination of grants, and failed to establish a change in Education Department priorities through notice and comment rulemaking

They also say that a federal court already enjoined some of President Donald Trump’s executive orders that targeted diversity programs.

That preliminary injunction, also in the District of Maryland, found several provisions of the orders likely were unconstitutionally vague, or raised First Amendment concerns.

The associations say that the Education Department’s Feb. 17 press release “makes clear that the grant terminations at issue in this lawsuit were pursuant to the Termination Provision” in an enjoined order.

Without the canceled grants, many students “will no longer be able to afford to continue to pursue a career in teaching,” among other harms to the profession, the complaint says.

The lawsuit asserts two claims, one for vagueness in violation of the Fifth Amendment’s due process clause and another for violation of the Administrative Procedure Act.

It seeks temporary and permanent injunctive relief that would not only prevent the enforcement of the terminations, but require “reimbursement for all otherwise allowable expenditures incurred between” the cancellation and a court order. It also seeks attorneys’ fees.

Judge Julie Rebecca Rubin is assigned the case.

Saul Ewing LLP represents the associations.

The case is Am. Ass’n of Colls. for Teacher Educ. v. Carter, D. Md., No. 1:25-cv-00702, complaint 3/3/25.