Trump Cuts $8M Grant to Chicago Schools Over Equity Policies

The Trump administration has decided to cancel an $8 million Magnet Schools Assistance Program grant for Chicago Public Schools (CPS) because the district refused to eliminate its Black Student Success Plan and restrict the rights of transgender students. Federal officials claimed CPS’s decision “fails to address the harms befalling CPS students,” according to Craig Trainor, acting assistant secretary for civil rights.

CPS leaders pushed back, stressing that both policies follow Illinois law and were created to protect students. Attorney Elizabeth Barton condemned the federal government’s 72-hour ultimatum, calling it “neither appropriate nor consistent with federal obligations.” She emphasized that the Black Student Success Plan directly tackles the long history of disparities faced by Black students, while trans-inclusive protections ensure schools remain safe and supportive.

The move also raises alarm about what’s next. Education Department spokesperson Julie Hartman suggested that districts like New York, Chicago, and Fairfax may face similar penalties, accusing them of “ideological indoctrination masquerading as ‘inclusive’ policy.” Trainor even labeled the Black Student Success Plan as “racial discrimination” against white students, while arguing that protections for transgender youth created a “hostile environment.” At its core, this fight is about what equity really means. For CPS, it means investing in Black students who have been systematically shortchanged and protecting transgender students from harm.

Link: Chicago Suntimes