WILL Lawsuit Targets the Beating Heart of Federal DEI Programs

This week, WILL and the Center for Individual Rights (CIR) filed a lawsuit targeting the foundation for many of the remaining federal DEI programs: the preference for so-called "socially disadvantaged individuals."

The lawsuit specifically targets the U.S. Small Business Administration's (SBA) Section 8(a) program, which illegally funnels billions of dollars by race under the guise of "socially disadvantaged individuals." As we know, this term is simply a euphemism for race discrimination and it exploded under the Biden Administration.

Qualifying as "socially disadvantaged" is big business. Hundreds of billions in federal tax dollars have flowed through the SBA’s Section 8(a) program to select businesses. This discrimination is widespread, affecting millions of Americans seeking federal grants, loans, or contracts across numerous federal agencies, including the Department of War, Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Department of Agriculture, EPA, and NASA.

WILL Deputy Counsel, Dan Lennington, stated, “In our previous cases, we challenged several specific Biden-era programs that discriminated based on race. We won. But now is the time for a new strategy that targets the nerve center of many of the remaining DEI programs: the preference for the so-called ‘socially disadvantaged.’ As several courts have already recognized, this is just a code word for race discrimination, and we plan to eliminate its use once and for all.”

WILL Applauds Wisconsin Assembly for Passing Education Reforms

Today, the Wisconsin State Assembly passed two important education reforms: the Wisconsin Teacher Bill of Rights (AB 614) and the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit Opt-in Bill (AB 602).

The Wisconsin Teacher Bill of Rights (AB 614) is a critical step toward restoring order and safety in Wisconsin classrooms. Teachers across the state cite student behavior and lack of administrative support as leading cause for leaving the profession. This bill addresses these concerns by giving educators clear authority and official backing to manage disruptive classrooms.

The Federal Scholarship Tax Credit Opt-in Bill (AB 602) allows Wisconsin to participate in a new federal scholarship tax credit program, potentially unlocking millions in private donations for students. Under the bill, Wisconsin taxpayers can claim a 100% federal tax credit (up to $1,700) for donations made to Scholarship Granting Organizations. These scholarship funds support students in both public and private schools by covering essential resources such as tutoring, transportation, technology, and more.

Both bills now advance to the Wisconsin Senate. If passed, they will then go to Governor Evers for consideration.

WILL Defends Rights of Christian Parent to Guide Child's Education

On behalf of a Wisconsin mom, WILL has notified Lighthouse Learning Academy that it is prepared to take legal action over the school's denial of certain curriculum materials simply because they came from a Christian publisher.

Our client, Mrs. Karen Sharkey, selected mostly non-religious materials from an award-winning publisher that provides resources to homeschoolers and charter schools across the country. Because the school believes that some of the materials she chose include religious references, and because of the publisher's Christian affiliation, Lighthouse denied Mrs. Sharkey's curriculum selections.

WILL is prepared to pursue legal action to protect Mrs. Sharkey's parental rights if Lighthouse Academy does not correct course.

WILL Client, Karen Sharkey, stated, “My husband and I chose Lighthouse for our family because of its commitment to involving parents in the educational process and because of the admirable autonomy it offers parents to choose the curriculum that best fits their children’s needs. We are surprised and deeply disappointed that Lighthouse has chosen to single out and discriminate against Christian publishers.”

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