The Trump administration has launched investigations into more than 50 universities over alleged racial discrimination, targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs that officials claim exclude white and Asian American students.
Federal scrutiny on race-based policies
The Education Department announced the investigations on Friday, a month after warning schools that they could lose federal funding over “race-based preferences” in admissions, scholarships, or student programs.
“Students must be assessed according to merit and accomplishment, not prejudged by the color of their skin,” Education Secretary Linda McMahon said, vowing to enforce the policy strictly.
The PhD project under fire
Most of the investigations focus on universities partnering with the PhD Project, a nonprofit aimed at increasing diversity in business education by supporting underrepresented students. Officials claim that its race-based eligibility criteria lead to “race-exclusionary practices” in graduate programs.
Among the 45 institutions being scrutinized for ties to the PhD Project are prominent public universities like Arizona State, Ohio State, and Rutgers, as well as elite private schools including Yale, Cornell, Duke, and MIT.
The PhD Project has not responded to requests for comment.
Race-based scholarships & segregation allegations
Six other colleges—Grand Valley State University, Ithaca College, the New England College of Optometry, the University of Alabama, the University of Minnesota, and the University of South Florida—are being investigated for allegedly offering race-based scholarships. The University of Tulsa School of Medicine is facing separate allegations of running a program that segregates students by race.
The department has not specified which of the seven institutions is accused of segregation.
Legal & political battle over DEI programs
The crackdown follows a 2023 Supreme Court ruling that struck down race-based admissions policies at Harvard and the University of North Carolina. Trump administration officials argue that the decision should be applied broadly, banning racial preferences in all aspects of education.
Craig Trainor, acting assistant secretary for civil rights, has accused DEI initiatives of promoting racial stereotypes and “explicit race-consciousness” in training, programming, and disciplinary measures.
However, the policy is already facing legal pushback. The nation’s two largest teachers’ unions have filed lawsuits challenging the memo, arguing it is too vague and violates free speech protections for educators.
As the legal battle unfolds, universities across the country are bracing for potential funding threats and shifts in DEI policies, setting the stage for a broader national debate over race and education.