HOUSTON, United States

A federal judge on Thursday temporarily blocked the Trump administration's push to end diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) lessons in US public schools, according to media reports.

The ruling came after the National Education Association and the American Civil Liberties Union filed lawsuits accusing the government of violating teachers’ due process and First Amendment rights by blocking DEI curriculum in kindergarten through grade 12.

The Education Department told schools and colleges in February they needed to end DEI practices that differentiated people based on race or risk losing federal funding.

Schools were warned that continuing the practices would be "in violation of federal law" and could lead to termination of federal grants.

Education officials in Democratic-led states said there is nothing illegal about DEI teachings and the Trump administration is overstepping its authority.

The lawsuits argued that prohibiting DEI lessons would limit academic freedom by dictating what students can be taught.

The Feb. 14 memo issued by the government said schools have promoted DEI efforts often at the expense of white and Asian American students. The lawsuits asked the courts to strike down the memo and stop the agency from enforcing the measure.

The lawsuits argue that the Education Department's guidelines are vague, leaving schools and educators uncertain about what they can and cannot teach.