SACRAMENTO — California is suing the Trump administration over its threats to pull public school funding because of diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Education threatened to revoke funds from schools that don’t terminate their DEI programs.

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Nineteen states that refused to comply with a Trump administration directive aimed at eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion programs in public schools went a step further Friday, filing a federal lawsuit challenging what they consider an illegal threat to cut federal funding.

Teachers unions and civil-rights groups sued to prevent the Education Department from cutting funding to K-12 schools and universities that did not cease what it called "discriminatory" DEI initiatives.