What to know about the Trump administration’s order to end DEI programs at schools
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Good morning. Here’s what you need to know to start your day.
- Schools and colleges could face funding cuts if they don’t abolish DEI programs by the end of the month.
- California’s insurance commissioner is in the hot seat after Los Angeles fires.
- Los Angeles has gone all in on hyper-specific bumper stickers — the weirder the better.
- And here’s today’s e-newspaper.
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Schools and colleges could lose federal funding if they don’t abolish DEI programs
The U.S. Department of Education recently announced that schools and colleges must eliminate race-specific programs by the end of the month or risk losing federal funding, my colleague Jaweed Kaleem reports.
The sweeping order sent educators in California and across the nation scrambling over the holiday weekend to understand how their academic institutions could be impacted. It comes at a time when many schools are already on alert as President Trump vows to dismantle the Department of Education.
Here’s a brief look at how the order could affect students, how much federal money goes to California schools and why the Trump administration believes there’s a legal precedent for eliminating race-related programs.
Financial aid, scholarships and graduation ceremonies are among the programs targeted
The Department of Education’s order was disclosed in a Feb. 14 letter that laid out a new federal anti-discrimination enforcement policy, my colleague Jaweed reports.
The new policy goes beyond existing instances in which it is illegal to consider race, such as in hiring and admissions. It also includes common practices often considered uncontroversial, education and legal experts told Jaweed.
They include things like scholarships for racial minorities, culturally themed dorm floors and optional graduation ceremonies for Black, Latino, Native American and other college and high school groups.
The guidelines, however, do not mention school initiatives that appeal to nonracial groups, such as women, LGBTQ+ students and religious communities.
The order is rooted in the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to end affirmative action
The Department of Education’s letter cites the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision that using race as a factor in student admissions is unconstitutional. While that case only addressed admissions, the department argued the court’s ruling set a new legal precedent.
“At its core, the test is simple: If an educational institution treats a person of one race differently than it treats another person because of that person’s race, the educational institution violates the law,” the letter stated.
Shaun Harper, a USC professor of education, public policy and business, said that interpretation is an overreach.
“The Supreme Court did not outlaw race-conscious campus programs and resources. Instead it ruled that race can’t be used as a factor in determining admission,” Harper told Jaweed.
California received about $16.3 billion in total federal funding last year
That’s according to the Education Data Initiative, which compiles information from government sources. California has 5.8 million K-12 public school students, according to the group.
At the college level, more than $1.5 billion is allocated each year from the department to California students through Pell Grants, which do not have to be repaid and are awarded to students with low family incomes.
The letter did not specify what types of federal funds for schools and colleges are at risk.
Today’s top stories
California’s insurance commissioner is in the hot seat after Los Angeles fires
- The devastation caused by the Palisades and Eaton fires has raised fresh questions about whether the state — and its top insurance regulator, Ricardo Lara — have done enough to protect homeowners.
- Before the fires burned more than 10,000 structures in Los Angeles County, insurers chose not to renew thousands of policies in Pacific Palisades, Altadena and other fire-prone areas.
- In other fire news, officials have yet to explain why nine hours passed between the outbreak of the fire in Eaton Canyon and the first wireless cellphone alert issued to west Altadena.
California officials described ‘chaos’ from Trump’s funding freezes
- In court filings, state and local officials have described “chaos” erupting after the Trump administration initiated a federal funding freeze.
- While funding has largely resumed amid ongoing litigation, officials say they fear future freezes will be devastating.
California policymakers are considering state ownership of one or more oil refineries
- The move is among a list of options presented by the California Energy Commission to ensure steady gas supplies as oil companies pull back from the refinery business in the state.
- An oil industry trade group questions whether the state would have the expertise to effectively run a refinery, citing a lack of “understanding of the industry and how it works.”
Amid bird flu, a legendary L.A. deli hatches an egg surcharge
- Langer’s Delicatessen-Restaurant in Westlake last week began charging customers 50 cents more per egg ordered. “I tried to wait and wait in hopes [the price] would go back down,” owner Norm Langer said.
- California is at the center of the country’s egg mess, with grocery stores charging $9 or more for a dozen eggs.
What else is going on
- L.A.’s Asian immigrant communities are prepping for disruption and heartache as rumors of mass deportations swirl.
- A new bill could require California to monitor wastewater for disease in the Central Valley.
- Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa will keep a Volvo, his last name and a Netflix account under a divorce settlement.
- Dry, warmer weather is expected for the Los Angeles region over the next week.
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Commentary and opinions
- California lags on fire safety rules, but common sense should limit combustibles near homes, The Times Editorial Board writes.
- Elon Musk’s “shoot first, aim later” style requires a fact check, columnist Robin Abcarian observes.
- Democrats belatedly wake up to start battling Trump and Musk, columnist Doyle McManus writes.
- Extend Trump’s 2017 tax cuts to promote growth, but cut spending too, writes Veronique de Rugy, a senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University.
- California’s housing problems require a better solution than densify, densify, densify, argues contributing writer Joel Kotkin, the presidential fellow for urban futures at Chapman University.
This morning’s must read
Los Angeles has reached peak bumper sticker, going beyond ‘Coexist’ and into overdrive. It’s hard to drive anywhere in the city right now without seeing an irreverent bumper sticker.
“It’s like a tattoo,” said Jeanne Vaccaro, who for years has collected stickers from artists, musicians and bookstores. “Your mom tells you not to. It’ll, quote, ruin my car, unquote.”
What’s the best bumper sticker you’ve seen in L.A.? Fill out the form in this link and submit a photo if you have one. You may be contacted by a Times reporter to learn more.
How can we make this newsletter more useful? Send comments to [email protected].
For your downtime
Going out
- 🥧 Looking for comfort-food nirvana? Try this 50-year-old chicken pot pie shop.
- 🖼️ An East Hollywood basturma shop is home to the next must-see art exhibit.
- 👞 Here are five easy exercises for your feet and ankles to relieve desk job aches and pains.
Staying in
- 🪷 “The White Lotus” Season 3 is finally here, and Times writers will be unpacking the latest mystery each week.
- 📺 Did you miss “SNL50: The Anniversary Special”? Here are six of the best moments (plus a bonus.)
- 🥗 Here’s a recipe for Clementine’s butterscotch brownies.
- ✏️ Get our free daily crossword puzzle, Sudoku, word search and arcade games.
A question for you: What’s your comfort TV show?
“The Office”? “Friends”? Or “The Golden Girls”? What’s your go-to TV show when you need to take your mind off things?
Email us at [email protected], and your response might appear in the newsletter this week.
And finally ... your great photo of the day
Today’s great photo is from Polly Drown of Palmdale: California poppies.
Polly writes: “The poppies in the Antelope Valley are so bright it blew me away the first time I saw them! And on a good year, they cover the hills as far as you can see.”
Show us your favorite place in California! Send us photos you have taken of spots in California that are special — natural or human-made — and tell us why they’re important to you.
Have a great day, from the Essential California team
Ryan Fonseca, reporter
Defne Karabatur, fellow
Andrew Campa, Sunday reporter
Kevinisha Walker, multiplatform editor
Hunter Clauss, multiplatform editor
Christian Orozco, assistant editor
Stephanie Chavez, deputy metro editor
Karim Doumar, head of newsletters
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