Trump Crackdown on DEI Programs Triggers 50+ Federal University Probes/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ More than 50 U.S. universities are under federal investigation as part of President Donald Trump’s efforts to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. The Education Department warned institutions they could lose federal funding over race-based admissions, scholarships, or student programs. The move follows a 2023 Supreme Court ruling limiting race-conscious admissions, now being applied to all aspects of higher education.
University DEI Investigations Quick Looks:
- Federal Crackdown: The Education Department is investigating over 50 universities for alleged racial discrimination.
- PhD Project Scrutiny: 45 schools are under review for partnering with a nonprofit supporting minority students in business.
- Scholarship Concerns: Six colleges are being investigated for offering race-based scholarships.
- Alleged Segregation: One university is accused of separating students based on race.
- Legal Challenges: Teachers’ unions have filed lawsuits, arguing the policy violates free speech.
Trump Crackdown on DEI Programs Triggers 50+ Federal University Probes
Deep Look:
President Donald Trump’s administration has intensified its fight against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in higher education, launching federal investigations into more than 50 universities. The Education Department announced the probes on Friday, citing potential violations of civil rights laws related to race-based admissions, scholarships, and student programs.
Federal Investigations and DEI Crackdown
The investigations come one month after the Education Department issued a memo warning universities that federal funding could be at risk if they continue race-conscious policies. The department is interpreting a 2023 Supreme Court ruling—originally focused on Harvard and the University of North Carolina’s admissions practices—as applying to all aspects of higher education, from scholarships to student organizations.
“Students must be assessed according to merit and accomplishment, not prejudged by the color of their skin,” said Education Secretary Linda McMahon. “We will not yield on this commitment.”
Among the 50+ schools under investigation, 45 universities are being scrutinized for their partnerships with the PhD Project, a nonprofit organization aimed at increasing minority representation in business education. Federal officials claim these partnerships constitute “race-exclusionary practices” in graduate programs.
The schools in question include a mix of public and private institutions, such as:
- Arizona State University
- Ohio State University
- Rutgers University
- Yale University
- Cornell University
- Duke University
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
The PhD Project has not yet responded to requests for comment.
Scholarship Programs Under Investigation
Six other colleges are being investigated for awarding scholarships that allegedly violate federal laws by being race-based. The universities include:
- Grand Valley State University
- Ithaca College
- New England College of Optometry
- University of Alabama
- University of Minnesota
- University of South Florida
Another school—the University of Tulsa School of Medicine—is being investigated for running a program accused of segregating students based on race. However, the department has not specified which of the seven universities is facing that specific allegation.
Legal and Political Fallout
The crackdown has drawn immediate backlash from educators and civil rights groups. The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the National Education Association (NEA), the nation’s two largest teachers’ unions, have filed lawsuits challenging the administration’s memo. They argue that the policy is overly vague and restricts educators’ free speech.
Craig Trainor, the acting assistant secretary for civil rights, defended the move, accusing colleges of “smuggling racial stereotypes and explicit race-consciousness into everyday training, programming, and discipline.”
Critics argue that the Trump administration is using federal investigations to dismantle DEI initiatives entirely, even beyond the Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling.
What’s Next?
The investigations are expected to unfold over the coming months, with potential consequences ranging from required policy changes to the loss of federal funding for noncompliant schools. Universities will likely face pressure to either revise their DEI programs or risk legal battles with the federal government.
Meanwhile, as legal challenges mount, the fate of race-conscious policies in higher education remains a heated debate, with lasting implications for students, faculty, and diversity initiatives nationwide.
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