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Mass. attorney general’s civil‑rights office says DEI legal protections remain, lists litigation wins
Summary
A senior attorney at the Massachusetts Attorney General’s civil‑rights division told the legislature the office has issued guidance affirming the legality of DEI and is litigating to block federal attempts to withhold funding; she cited recent circuit and district court decisions and described guidance for schools and businesses.
Elizabeth Matos, chief of the Civil Rights Division at the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, told the joint committee the office has issued guidance for businesses, non‑profits and educational institutions to clarify that diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility programs remain legal under state and federal civil‑rights laws.
Matos said the Attorney General’s Office has filed and supported litigation to force the federal government to follow existing law and to halt threatened funding cuts. “These efforts are very much still, alive and, legal and valid, and we need to continue that,” she told the committee.
Why it matters: The AG’s guidance aims to reduce confusion among institutions that receive federal grants…
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