Trump-appointed judge blocks Minnesota’s restriction on religious colleges

In a stunning blow to progressive overreach, a Trump-appointed judge has struck down a Minnesota law that sought to exclude religious colleges from a state education program simply for holding to their faith-based admissions standards.

The Dahis ruling, handed down on Friday, overturned a 2023 amendment to Minnesota’s Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) program that barred religious institutions from participating if they required students to affirm a statement of faith, a decision that sparked a legal challenge from families and colleges alike.

The Daily Caller reported that the PSEO program allows high school students in Minnesota to enroll in college courses with state funding covering the costs.

It’s a dual-enrollment initiative that’s been a lifeline for many families seeking quality education. Until recently, religious colleges were key participants, reaping millions in state funds while admitting a growing number of eager applicants.

Judge Rules Against Minnesota’s Discriminatory Policy

Then came the 2023 amendment, a clear jab at schools of faith, which declared that any institution requiring a faith statement for admission was ineligible for PSEO funds. Talk about a solution in search of a problem—why punish schools for sticking to their core beliefs?

The judge, appointed during the Trump administration, saw right through this thinly veiled attack on religious freedom. The ruling made it crystal clear: this law violated the First Amendment by trampling on the free exercise of religion for both the schools and the families who choose them.

As the court ruling stated, “If the Schools’ eligibility to participate in PSEO is conditioned on not using faith statements as an admissions requirement, their free exercise in maintaining a campus community of like-minded believers is burdened.”

Well, no kidding—forcing schools to ditch their values for a state handout is coercion, not choice. It’s refreshing to see a court call it what it is.

The plaintiffs, a coalition of Minnesota families and religious colleges, didn’t sit idly by while the state played morality police.

They argued that this policy forced them into an impossible bind, as the ruling noted: it burdened “their free exercise by forcing them to choose between participating in PSEO and maintaining their faith statements.”

Think about that for a second—a family’s right to pick a school that aligns with their beliefs was suddenly held hostage by a progressive agenda. It’s not just unfair; it’s un-American. The judge agreed, recognizing the real harm this exclusion would inflict on both sides.

The court further explained, “Likewise, if the Families cannot obtain the public benefit of PSEO reimbursement for their children at a school of their choice of like-minded believers, their free exercise is also burdened.”

Exactly—why should families lose access to a public benefit just because they value spiritual alignment? This isn’t equity; it’s exclusion dressed up as policy.

Religious Schools’ Vital Role in Education

Let’s not forget the stakes here: these religious colleges aren’t fringe players in Minnesota’s education landscape. They’ve welcomed a significant and increasing number of PSEO students over the years, providing options that resonate with countless families. To cut them off is to slash opportunities for students who thrive in such environments.

Moreover, these institutions have historically received millions in state funding through the program, a testament to their established role in serving the community. Pulling the rug out from under them doesn’t just hurt the schools—it disrupts the educational paths of real students with real aspirations.

The ruling also highlighted that these faith-based admissions policies are protected under exemptions for religious institutions, noting they are “means for the Schools to achieve the ends of limiting admission and giving preference to applicants who share their religious beliefs.”

In other words, these standards aren’t discrimination; they’re the very essence of a faith community. It’s about identity, not exclusion, and the court rightfully defended that principle. Curiously, the Minnesota Department of Education had no comment when pressed by the Daily Caller News Foundation for a response to the ruling.

Perhaps they’re too busy drafting the next attempt to sideline religious liberty, or maybe they just don’t have a defense for overstepping constitutional bounds. Either way, their silence leaves more questions than answers.

What’s undeniable is the broader implication of this decision: the state cannot wield public benefits as a weapon to force compliance with a secularist worldview.

Families and schools deserve the freedom to uphold their convictions without fear of being sidelined by bureaucratic fiat. This ruling is a win for choice, for faith, and for the fundamental rights enshrined in our Constitution.