- Federal probes target 52 universities in Trump administration’s DEI crackdown
- 45 institutions scrutinized for partnerships with diversity-focused PhD Project
- Seven schools investigated over race-based scholarships and alleged segregation
- Legal challenges mount against Education Department’s controversial policy memo
The U.S. Education Department has launched sweeping investigations into more than fifty universities as part of the Trump administration’s campaign against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The move follows a February memo expanding the interpretation of the Supreme Court’s 2023 affirmative action decision, which originally targeted Harvard and UNC’s admissions policies but now seeks to eliminate race-conscious practices across all educational programs.
At the center of the controversy are 45 universities partnered with the PhD Project, a nonprofit working to diversify business leadership by supporting underrepresented minority students pursuing doctoral degrees. Federal officials claim these partnerships constitute illegal racial exclusion, despite the organization’s mission to address systemic underrepresentation in business academia. Affected institutions range from public giants like Arizona State University to Ivy League stalwarts such as Yale and MIT.
Regional tensions surface in Alabama, where the University of Alabama faces scrutiny alongside six other institutions accused of awarding race-exclusive scholarships. This Deep South case study highlights the complex legacy of segregation in American education, though investigators haven’t specified which school faces segregation allegations. Education Secretary Linda McMahon emphasized the administration’s stance: Meritocracy must prevail over skin color in educational assessments.
Three critical industry insights emerge from this showdown: First, DEI programs have increased minority MBA enrollment by 37% since 2015 according to AACSB data. Second, universities risk losing up to $120 billion in federal funding collectively if found non-compliant. Third, the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision is creating ripple effects beyond admissions—97% of universities now report auditing all diversity-related programs for legal compliance.
Teachers’ unions have filed federal lawsuits arguing the policy memo violates educators’ First Amendment rights and creates compliance uncertainty. National Education Association president Rebecca Pringle contends, This overreach threatens progress toward equitable access to quality education.As legal battles escalate, universities walk a tightrope between federal mandates and commitments to campus diversity.