Over 50 Universities Under Federal Investigation in Trump’s Crackdown on DEI Programs
More than 50 universities across the United States are now under federal investigation for alleged racial discrimination as part of former President Donald Trump’s broader effort to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. His administration argues that such programs unfairly exclude white and Asian American students.
Federal Crackdown on Race-Based Policies
The U.S. Department of Education announced the investigations on Friday, just a month after issuing a warning that institutions engaging in “race-based preferences”—whether in admissions, scholarships, or student life—risk losing federal funding.
“Students must be assessed according to merit and accomplishment, not prejudged by the color of their skin,” Education Secretary Linda McMahon stated. “We will not yield on this commitment.”
Universities Under Scrutiny
Most of the ongoing investigations target universities with ties to the PhD Project, a nonprofit initiative that aims to increase diversity in business academia by supporting students from underrepresented backgrounds in obtaining doctoral degrees. Federal officials claim that partnering universities are violating anti-discrimination policies by engaging in “race-exclusionary practices” in their graduate programs.
Among the 45 institutions under investigation for their affiliations with the PhD Project are major public universities such as:
- Arizona State University
- Ohio State University
- Rutgers University
Additionally, prestigious private institutions, including Yale, Cornell, Duke, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), are also facing scrutiny.
Ohio State University responded to the investigation, stating, “The university does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, or any other protected class, and our PhD programs are open to all qualified applicants.”
The PhD Project has yet to issue a statement in response.
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Additional Investigations Into Scholarships and Student Programs
Beyond the PhD Project, six other colleges are being investigated for offering what the department deems “impermissible race-based scholarships.” Another institution faces allegations of running a program that segregates students based on race. The schools under review include:
- Grand Valley State University
- Ithaca College
- New England College of Optometry
- University of Alabama
- University of Minnesota
- University of South Florida
- University of Oklahoma at Tulsa
Notably, an initial press release from the Education Department mistakenly listed the University of Tulsa as one of the schools under investigation, which was later corrected.
The Impact of the 2023 Supreme Court Decision
This wave of federal scrutiny follows the Trump administration’s interpretation of the 2023 Supreme Court ruling, which banned race-conscious admissions policies at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina. While the ruling primarily addressed admissions, the Department of Education has expanded its scope, applying it to all aspects of education, from K-12 schools to higher education institutions.
In a February 14 memo, Craig Trainor, the acting assistant secretary for civil rights, stated that DEI initiatives have been “smuggling racial stereotypes and explicit race-consciousness into everyday training, programming, and discipline.”
Legal Challenges to the Federal Memo
The administration’s directive has sparked significant backlash. The nation’s two largest teachers’ unions have filed federal lawsuits, arguing that the memo is overly vague and infringes on educators’ free speech rights.
As the legal battle unfolds, the investigations into universities signal a significant shift in federal policy—one that could reshape DEI programs in education for years to come.
