Department of Education faces lawsuit over race-based PhD grant program

A lawsuit has been filed against the Department of Education in the District of North Dakota, challenging the constitutionality of a grant program that employs racial criteria for eligibility. The program, which allocates $60 million to support students from disadvantaged backgrounds pursuing doctoral studies, is accused of excluding certain racial groups, including Asians, whites, Arabs, many Latinos, and some Africans, unless they meet specific economic and educational criteria. Plaintiffs Benjamin Rothove and Avery Durfee argue that they fulfill all other admission requirements for the McNair program but are denied based on their race. Durfee, a first-generation college student, was informed that her family's income disqualified her, while Rothove was told he was ineligible solely due to his race. The lawsuit claims that the program violates the recent Supreme Court ruling in the Students for Fair Admissions case, which deemed racial preferences in college admissions unconstitutional. The plaintiffs assert that the federal government cannot impose racial considerations on universities, thereby placing the burden on them. They seek to inform educational institutions that the current practices based on race are invalid and to obtain a court order to halt these practices. The Department of Education has refrained from commenting on the ongoing litigation, maintaining a stance of non-disclosure regarding legal matters. This case highlights the ongoing debate surrounding race-based criteria in educational funding and admissions, particularly in light of recent judicial decisions. As the lawsuit progresses, it may set a precedent for how federal programs can utilize racial criteria and could impact future funding initiatives aimed at supporting underrepresented groups in higher education.