Schools and states that use illegal DEI practices can face a loss of federal money, including grants and contracts, and can be held liable under the False Claims Act, according to the certification. It specifically threatens Title I funding, which sends billions of dollars a year to America’s schools and targets low-income areas.

What's left of the Trump administration's Department of Education has threatened to pull federal funding from New York City schools over diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives​.

A letter sent out Thursday is another Trump administration to curb diversity, equity, and inclusion in schools—and use funding as leverage.