More than 50 universities across the United States are being investigated for alleged racial discrimination as the Trump administration intensifies efforts to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs that officials say exclude white and Asian American students.
The U.S. Department of Education announced the probes, which could lead to institutions losing federal funding over “race-based preferences” in admissions, scholarships or any aspect of student life.
Why It Matters
The investigations mark an aggressive expansion of a Republican-led push against DEI initiatives in higher education. Following a Supreme Court ruling in 2023 that struck down affirmative action in college admissions, the Trump administration has widened its scrutiny to scholarships, mentorship programs, and other university policies perceived to favor specific racial groups.
AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin
The Trump administration’s aggressive push against DEI programs has fueled a broader national debate over race-conscious policies in higher education. Conservative groups argue that such initiatives unfairly disadvantage white and Asian American students, while proponents contend they are essential for leveling the playing field and fostering inclusivity.
What to Know
Among the institutions facing scrutiny are Yale University, Duke University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, along with major public universities such as Arizona State, Ohio State, and Rutgers.
Most of these investigations are tied to universities’ partnerships with The Ph.D. Project, a nonprofit aimed at increasing minority representation in business academia. The administration claims such programs engage in “race-exclusionary practices.”
Six other colleges are being investigated for awarding “impermissible race-based scholarships,” the department said, and another is accused of running a program that segregates students on the basis of race.
Those seven are: Grand Valley State University, Ithaca College, the New England College of Optometry, the University of Alabama, the University of Minnesota, the University of South Florida and the University of Oklahoma, Tulsa School of Community Medicine.
Trump Demands Columbia Overhauls Policies or Risks Losing Funds
Separately, the Trump administration has issued an ultimatum to Columbia University, warning that the school will permanently lose federal funding unless it cedes control of an international studies department and enacts broad policy changes.
In a letter sent Thursday night, federal officials demanded that Columbia place its Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies Department under “academic receivership” for at least five years. The university must also ban identity-concealing masks on campus, adopt a new definition of antisemitism, overhaul its student disciplinary process, and submit a plan to reform undergraduate admissions, international recruitment, and graduate admissions practices.
Pool via AP
What People Are Saying
According to a statement from Education Secretary Linda McMahon, “Students must be assessed according to merit and accomplishment, not prejudged by the color of their skin. We will not yield on this commitment.”
A statement from Ohio State said the university “does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity or any other protected class, and our Ph.D. programs are open to all qualified applicants.”
Dr. Michael D. Anthony, the first African American president of Prairie State College, said: “We’ve been under attack around the federal government … with citizens becoming more cynical, hostile, and divided.”
What’s Next
Legal challenges are expected, as universities push back against the investigations. Some institutions have already modified their DEI policies in response to prior warnings from the Education Department. Experts anticipate that this broader crackdown could set legal precedents affecting hiring practices, corporate DEI efforts, and government-funded programs beyond higher education.
The Department of Education has not provided a timeline for concluding the investigations, but officials emphasized that schools found in violation risk losing federal funding. The controversy continues to escalate as political and legal battles over DEI policies shape the future of American higher education.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.
Correction: 3/14/25, 7 p.m. ET: This article has been updated to clarify that the U.S. Department of Education erroneously listed The University of Tulsa instead of the University of Oklahoma, Tulsa School of Medicine.
