Washington, DC – Today, Democracy Forward filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Education for unlawfully withholding records related to the Department’s sudden cancellation of nearly $900 million in education research contracts and issuing a sweeping and vague civil rights policy directive. The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, seeks to compel the Department to comply with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

The complaint arises from two alarming actions taken by the Department of Education earlier this year: the unexpected termination of 89 Institute of Education Sciences (IES) contracts that underpin key education data and research, and the release of a “Dear Colleague Letter” that threatens to withhold federal funds from education institutions that teach accurate history and lessons about slavery, diversity, and inclusion, among other efforts. Democracy Forward filed for a preliminary injunction to pause implementation of the Dear Colleague Letter last week, as part of the litigation it filed on behalf of educators following the letter’s distribution in February. 

Democracy Forward has filed multiple FOIA requests seeking transparency into both actions. The Department failed to meet the response deadline and has not provided any meaningful updates since acknowledging receipt of the requests more than a month ago.

“The Trump Department of Education’s abrupt and arbitrary actions threaten the foundations of the public education system,” said Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward. “The public has a right to know who is behind these decisions and what is motivating them. Democracy requires transparency and accountability—especially when core civil rights like the education of millions of students and research infrastructure are at stake.”

The FOIA requests sought communications with outside organizations—including advocacy groups known for challenging civil rights protections—and internal records detailing who ordered the research cancellations and why. These records are crucial for understanding the potential influence of ideological actors and the scope of changes that may affect students, educators, and policymakers across the country.

The complaint can be found here.

###

Democracy Forward is a national legal organization that advances democracy and social progress through litigation, policy, public education, and regulatory engagement. For more information, please visit www.democracyforward.org.