Trump Launches Investigations Into More Than 50 Universities For Racial Discrimination

The Biden-era push for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in higher education is now facing an aggressive crackdown as the Trump administration launches investigations into more than 50 universities accused of engaging in race-based discrimination. The Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is scrutinizing these institutions under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits racial discrimination in federally funded programs.

Schools and colleges across the U.S. have until Friday to comply with the administration’s directive to eliminate diversity programs that allegedly employ racial preferences or risk losing federal funding. The OCR investigations target 45 universities accused of partnering with “The Ph.D. Project,” a program intended to help minority students obtain a doctorate.

The government contends that these universities violated Title VI by participating in a program that limits eligibility based on race. Additionally, six universities are under investigation for allegedly awarding race-based scholarships, while another is being scrutinized for reportedly running a racially segregated program.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon made it clear that the administration is committed to enforcing equal opportunity laws. “The Department is working to reorient civil rights enforcement to ensure all students are protected from illegal discrimination,” McMahon stated. “Students must be assessed according to merit and accomplishment, not prejudged by the color of their skin. We will not yield on this commitment.”

The universities under investigation include some of the nation’s most prestigious institutions, such as Yale University, the University of Chicago, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Other schools targeted in the probe include Arizona State University, Clemson University, Duke University, and Vanderbilt University, among others.

The Trump administration’s latest move follows the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, which struck down affirmative action in college admissions. The ruling established that using race as a factor in admissions decisions violates the Equal Protection Clause and Title VI, setting the stage for this broader enforcement effort.

On February 14, the Department of Education issued a “Dear Colleague Letter” reminding institutions that they must eliminate racial preferences in all aspects of their operations, including admissions, hiring, financial aid, scholarships, and even administrative support. Schools were given 14 days to assess their compliance with federal law.

The department further warned against using indirect means to maintain racial preferences, such as altering application questions or using essay prompts to indirectly gauge race. Despite the looming threat of losing federal funding, few universities have announced changes to their policies. Many believe they can withstand the legal challenge, arguing that their programs fall within the bounds of existing law.

The Department of Education has made it clear that noncompliant institutions may face financial consequences. Whether the administration will follow through on the threat of defunding remains uncertain, as such actions would likely trigger a series of legal battles.

Antioch University’s chief stated that “most of higher education” won’t comply with the memo unless federal law changes. Meanwhile, Western Michigan University’s president advised his campus to “please proceed as usual,” per The Associated Press.

Ted Mitchell, president of the American Council on Education, is assuring colleges that if they were compliant with federal law before the memo, they still are. “There’s nothing to act on until we see the administration or its agencies try to stop something,” Mitchell said. “And then we’ll have the argument.”