On Jan. 21, 2026 the U.S. Department of Education withdrew its appeal of a federal court ruling that had blocked a 2025 'Dear Colleague' letter clarifying enforcement of civil‑rights law for campus DEI work. The withdrawal means the 2025 guidance is no longer enforceable. ACPA and other campus associations urged colleagues to resume equity‑centered programs and signaled that the federal pressure that had prompted widespread self‑censorship has eased, while noting state or local constraints may still apply. The move restores a measure of legal clarity for campus leaders and practitioners but does not erase the operational effects of the prior year — many offices paused programs, staff retreated from public work, and institutions remain cautious. Legal and policy watchers say the withdrawal will influence litigation posture and campus practice but that colleges should still evaluate state laws and institutional risk management before restarting suspended efforts.