Why US teachers say Trump's anti-DEI order is silencing them in the classroom

When sixth-grade teacher Sarah Inama returned to her Idaho classroom one morning, she was told that a poster she had displayed for years — reading "Everyone is welcome here" — was now considered a personal political statement. The colorful sign, with letters in varying hues and illustrated hands of different skin tones, had once gone unnoticed. But under new federal guidance issued after President Donald Trump's return to office, the same message was flagged as potentially violating policy.

This change follows a sweeping executive order signed by President Trump titled "Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling", which targets diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in US public schools. The order allows the US Department of Education to withhold federal funding from schools that continue to teach what the administration calls "equity ideology." The implementation of an End DEI portal , where students or parents can report DEI-related content in classrooms, is further amplifying fears among educators.

Why DEI discussions are now seen as controversial in US schools
Inama, who teaches world civilization, told her story to NPR, saying the poster had always encouraged kindness and inclusivity among students. But in a shift she did not anticipate, her principal and vice principal asked her to remove it. As reported by NPR, she was told that teachers are now prohibited from displaying materials that reflect personal or political views, and her poster was classified under this restriction.

After losing sleep over the request, Inama chose to rehang the poster. The decision, according to her, was viewed as insubordination by school administrators. When she escalated her concerns to the district's chief academic officer, she was told that political climates change, and "what might not have been controversial three or six or nine months ago can be considered controversial now," as reported by NPR.

West Ada School District confirmed Inama's account to NPR, stating that the issue was not with the message itself but the visual elements of the poster — specifically the multi-colored letters and diverse skin tones — which were deemed as potentially expressing viewpoints related to identity groups.

How the End DEI portal is changing classroom behavior
For another teacher, identified only as "E." by NPR to protect her identity, the launch of the End DEI portal was a turning point. She teaches social studies in Oregon and said that hearing about the portal immediately caused anxiety. "I kept thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, what did I say in class today? What was asked in class today? What could be taken out of context in class today?'" she told NPR. From that moment forward, she began altering how she engaged with students, becoming overly cautious and often avoiding politically sensitive questions altogether.

As quoted by NPR, she explained, "There are so many times where I just have to tell them I can't answer that question or I just change the subject." She also described having to "cover her butt" while still trying to educate students truthfully.

E. told NPR that she feels as though free speech rights are not equally applied, stating, "It's becoming easier and easier for certain people to have the right to free speech and for others to be having theirs shut down." She added that what's considered acceptable speech in schools has undergone a major shift, particularly with the risk of being reported through the federal portal.

Why some groups celebrate the DEI rollback
While many teachers report a chilling effect on classroom discussions, conservative parent advocacy groups like Moms for Liberty view the federal crackdown on DEI as a long-overdue correction. Co-founder Tina Descovich told NPR that the End DEI portal has allowed concerned parents to flag lessons that allegedly categorize students by race and present some as oppressors and others as victims.

Descovich, speaking to NPR, argued that "we can study history and the atrocities that have happened in American history, but to divide children today in 2025 by race is unacceptable." However, NPR reported that it found no evidence of such racial division practices in US public schools. Moms for Liberty cited a 2021 incident at a Florida public arts high school where separate meetings were briefly planned for white students and students of color, but the school canceled the meetings and apologized.

How DEI restrictions are tied to wider political movements
Founded during the Covid-19 pandemic, Moms for Liberty initially rallied against mask mandates and school closures. Since then, the group has broadened its focus to include banning books on race, discrimination, sexuality, and LGBTQ rights. According to NPR, the Southern Poverty Law Center labeled the group extremist in 2023, after the National School Board Association requested federal assistance due to rising threats against educators and school board members.

Moms for Liberty dismissed the extremist label, with Descovich telling NPR, "We are not anti-government, but we absolutely have the right, guaranteed in the First Amendment, to address government officials when we think they are not on the right track." She added that watching political power shift back in their favor has been "incredible," referring to the group's presence at recent White House events.

In the months following Trump's return to office, representatives of Moms for Liberty attended the signing of executive orders dismantling the Department of Education and banning transgender athletes from women's and girls' sports. These events, as NPR noted, signal the group's growing influence and renewed access to federal policymaking spaces.

Why teachers are left uncertain about what they can say
Despite continuing to teach, Sarah Inama admitted to NPR that the poster incident left her feeling demoralized. She questioned the new norms being established in US public education, saying, "There are only two opinions of that poster: You either believe that everyone is welcome here or you don't."

With the End DEI portal and accompanying executive orders now in effect, many teachers like Inama and E. say they feel they are being forced to choose between doing their jobs truthfully and protecting their employment. As reported by NPR, the US Department of Education has not responded to repeated requests for details on how the complaint and penalty process for reported teachers will function.

While supporters of the order see it as a necessary measure to reclaim education from ideological bias, many educators see it as a growing threat to free speech, professional integrity, and the safe exchange of ideas in the classroom.