The Trump administration has issued a directive requiring schools and universities across the United States to dismantle their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs within two weeks or risk losing federal funding.
The ultimatum, outlined in a memo from the Department of Education, demands an end to the use of racial preferences in admissions, financial aid, hiring, and other academic processes.
The move has sent shockwaves through educational institutions, with administrators scrambling to assess their legal standing and determine the best course of action.
The directive threatens to impact various aspects of campus life, from admissions essays and classroom discussions to student organizations.
According to Craig Trainor, the acting assistant secretary for civil rights, the new policy aims to eliminate what the administration views as widespread discrimination in education, particularly against white and Asian students. “Schools have been operating on the pretext that selecting students for ‘diversity’ or similar euphemisms is not selecting them based on race. No longer. Students should be assessed according to merit, accomplishment, and character,” Trainor stated.
However, the directive has been met with strong opposition from civil rights groups and higher education leaders.
Critics argue that the vague wording of the memo may pressure schools into abandoning diversity-related efforts, even those that might be legally permissible.
Jonathan Fansmith, senior vice president of government relations at the American Council on Education, contends that the administration’s goal is not just policy enforcement but also creating a chilling effect.
“Creating a sense of risk around doing work that might promote diverse and welcoming campuses is much more of the goal than a clear statement of existing law,” he said