Trump administration lawsuit claims R.I. is discriminating against white teachers

The U. S. Department of Justice has initiated a lawsuit against Rhode Island education officials, alleging that a student loan forgiveness program unlawfully discriminates against white teachers. The lawsuit targets the “Educators of Color Loan Forgiveness Program,” which offers up to $25,000 in student debt repayment for new teachers of color in Providence. The complaint argues that the program violates employment discrimination laws by excluding white teachers.

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon emphasized that benefits cannot be based on race, asserting, “We will not tolerate such plainly prohibited discrimination in employment. ” The federal government is seeking a court ruling to declare the program discriminatory and to stop its implementation based on race. Providence schools and the Rhode Island Department of Education stated they were unaware of the lawsuit and had been collaborating with federal officials to resolve the issue. This legal action highlights the contentious debate surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in education.

The Providence program was designed to address the district's demographic challenges, with over 90% of its student body being non-white.