On August 14, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland vacated the February 14 “Dear Colleague” Letter and the Certification Requirement, holding that both are unconstitutional, unlawful, and do not comply with the Administrative Procedures Act (APA). The “Dear Colleague” Letter (DCL) The DCL, issued by the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) of the U.S. Department of Education … [Read more...] about U.S. District Court Vacated Trump Administration’s “Dear Colleague” Letter Concerning DEI Programs
Frozen K-12 Grants To Be Released
On July 25, 2025, the Office of Management and Budget confirmed that the Trump administration will release nearly $6 billion in K-12 education grant funding that was previously frozen on July 1, 2025, pending programmatic reviews. See SLB 419 “Federal Withholding of Over $6 Billion in K-12 Grants Poses Immediate Challenges for School Districts” for our prior analysis on this issue. This … [Read more...] about Frozen K-12 Grants To Be Released
Mental Health Matters: Pennsylvania Now Recognizes Psychological and Psychiatric Costs as Medical Expenses in Support Cases
On July 1, 2025, a significant amendment to Rule 1910.16-6 of the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure went into effect, officially classifying psychiatric and psychological expenses as medical expenses to be allocated for the purpose of support orders. This change marks an important step forward by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, acknowledging that mental health is essential to overall … [Read more...] about Mental Health Matters: Pennsylvania Now Recognizes Psychological and Psychiatric Costs as Medical Expenses in Support Cases
U.S. Department of Justice Releases Guidance for Recipients of Federal Funding Regarding “Unlawful Discrimination”
On July 29, 2025, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi circulated a memorandum to all federal agencies with guidance regarding what constitutes unlawful discrimination. Specifically, the guidance honed in on the applicability of federal antidiscrimination laws to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. The DOJ's Memo The DOJ’s memo, titled “Guidance for Recipients of Federal Funding … [Read more...] about U.S. Department of Justice Releases Guidance for Recipients of Federal Funding Regarding “Unlawful Discrimination”
U.S. Department of Justice Releases Guidance for Recipients of Federal Funding Regarding “Unlawful Discrimination”
On July 29, 2025, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi circulated a memorandum to all federal agencies with guidance regarding what constitutes unlawful discrimination. Specifically, the guidance honed in on the applicability of federal antidiscrimination laws to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. The Memorandum The DOJ’s memo, titled “Guidance for Recipients of Federal … [Read more...] about U.S. Department of Justice Releases Guidance for Recipients of Federal Funding Regarding “Unlawful Discrimination”
U.S. Department of Labor Releases Various Self-Audit Programs
On July 24, 2025, the United States Department of Labor (the “Department”) issued a news release, announcing the launch of self-audit programs “to help [the] regulated community strengthen compliance with federal labor laws.” Below, KingSpry’s Employment Law Chair, Avery E. Smith, shares her key takeaways from the Department’s latest announcement and the various self-audit programs. Key … [Read more...] about U.S. Department of Labor Releases Various Self-Audit Programs
