# Seventh Circuit weighs whether Education Department can cut grants tied to DEI

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/seventh-circuit-weighs-whether-education-department-can-cut-grants-tied-to-dei/
- Published: 2026-11-12T22:51:19+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-12T23:24:29+00:00
- Original publisher: Washington Examiner (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/justice/4801713/seventh-circuit-education-department-dei-grants/
- Topics: Government, Politics

## Key points

- The Seventh Circuit heard ACT Now Coalition’s challenge to grant cuts.
- The group says the decision violated its First Amendment rights.
- The case concerns federal funding linked to DEI initiatives.

## Summary

The Seventh Circuit heard arguments in ACT Now Coalition’s challenge to the Education Department’s decision to end its grants, after the group advanced diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. The case tests whether the government can withdraw grant funding on that basis and adds to wider legal disputes over the Trump administration’s efforts to end DEI in government programmes.

ACT Now Coalition provides after-school programmes for students in Illinois. Its lawyer, Michael Ortega, argued that terminating the funding retaliated against the group for its viewpoint and violated the First Amendment, and highlighted the impact of losing the grants. The court heard arguments from the coalition and the Justice Department; the article does not report a ruling.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.