The Trump Administration has recently launched a coordinated enforcement campaign across multiple federal agencies, threatening billions of dollars in educational funding in nearly every U.S. state and territory.
Federal agencies will begin to withhold government grants unless diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs are eliminated and unless strict biological sex definitions in educational settings, in compliance with federal law, are enforced.
On August 28, 2025, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued a stark warning to Illinois and 45 other states: remove all “gender ideology” references from federally-funded Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) materials within 60 days or face losing funding.
Illinois currently receives $1,886,619 annually through the State PREP program, which offers comprehensive sex education to adolescents.
Acting Assistant Secretary Andrew Gradison‘s language was clear:
“Federal funds will not be used to poison the minds of the next generation or advance dangerous ideological agendas.”
In addition to this, Attorney General Pam Bondi has concurrently launched an unprecedented Title IX enforcement initiative targeting transgender students’ participation in sports and access to facilities. The U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Department of Education formed a joint “Title IX Special Investigations Team” in April 2025 to speed up investigations and enforcement actions.
Bondi warned that “[t]his Department of Justice will defend women and does not tolerate state officials who ignore federal law.”
The DOJ has already filed lawsuits against Maine and threatens similar action against California, Minnesota, and other states with inclusive policies.
No doubt Illinois will be on the list soon.
More importantly, Bondi issued a comprehensive July 29, 2025, memorandum stating that many DEI programs violate federal anti-discrimination laws, specifically targeting educational initiatives that consider “protected characteristics” in programming or hiring.
This guidance impacts all recipients of federal funding, including Illinois schools that receive billions annually.
These enforcement actions derive legal authority from the U.S. Supreme Court‘s June 27, 2025, decision in Mahmoud v. Taylor and from Title IX. In a 6-3 ruling, the Court held that public schools must provide notice and opt-out options when curriculum conflicts with parents’ “sincerely held religious beliefs.”
Additionally, the plain language of Title IX prohibits biological males from competing on female teams or from encroaching on female spaces, such as locker rooms, restrooms, or female-only dormitories.
In Mahmoud, Justice Samuel Alito‘s majority opinion concluded that “mere exposure” to objectionable content can impose a significant burden on religious exercise when combined with “normative messaging and institutional reinforcement.” This significantly broadens parental authority over curriculum content beyond traditional opt-out policies for sex education.
The decision essentially gives parents the authority to veto educational materials they oppose due to religious reasons.
The financial stakes for Illinois could be enormous. Federal education funding to Illinois amounts to approximately $4.57 billion each year, which translates to $2,470 per student. This includes the following education-related funding:
Education Funding—Primary Targets
- Title I Funding – Supporting high-poverty schools
- PREP Funding – Direct HHS threats to states like Illinois
- Title IX Enforcement – All education programs receiving federal funds
Additional Education Programs at Risk
- Title II – Teacher training/professional development
- Title III – English learner services
- Title IV – Student academic enrichment grants
- 21st Century Community Learning Centers – After-school programs
- IDEA – Special education funding
- Head Start – Early childhood programs
Chicago Public Schools alone faces over $1 billion in potential federal funding cuts, accounting for 16% of its total budget. Statewide, Illinois school districts could lose about 10% of their funding if federal agencies follow through on threats.
Additional federal health and social service funding totaling hundreds of millions of dollars remains at risk. The Trump administration has already cut $477 million in Illinois public health grants and halted other financing for mental health and substance abuse programs.
Governor J.B. Pritzker and state education officials have taken a defiant stance by continuing DEI programming despite federal threats. State Superintendent Tony Sanders explicitly told districts to “continue teaching the way they’ve always taught,” arguing federal letters have “no legal force.”
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul filed federal lawsuits challenging funding cuts and joined multi-state coalitions opposing the Trump administration’s policies. Pritzker released statements defending Illinois’ commitment to “helping every child from every community, background, socioeconomic status, gender, and race.”
However, this defiance carries significant financial risk. As Sanders acknowledged:
“We don’t have a way to make up for that loss of funds”.
Based on Illinois’ historical response patterns and political calculations, the state will likely stay its current course. Using the past as an indicator, Illinois will probably resist first through legal maneuvers.
The Pritzker Administration will continue federal court challenges, seeking injunctions to prevent funding cuts while protecting DEI programs. Several federal judges already have issued temporary restraining orders restricting the Trump administration’s enforcement.
As legal battles unfold, Illinois will challenge federal authority by continuing non-compliance while secretly negotiating for relaxed requirements. When federal agencies actually start cutting funds, Pritzker will face a crucial decision. Historical examples indicate he will maintain his signature progressive policies rather than cave in to federal pressure.
This strategy mirrors California’s approach during past federal confrontations. Progressive governors see federal funding cuts as politically manageable compared to appearing to give in on core ideological positions under Trump administration pressure.
The Trump administration’s actions against Illinois and other states challenge the relationship between federal and state governments in education. The Mahmoud decision provides the legal foundation for using federal authority to promote parental rights as a constitutional obligation rather than as policy preferences.
Along with Title IX enforcement and funding threats, federal agencies now have tools to help parents reshape educational content nationwide.
Let’s pray the effort succeeds.
