U.S. Department of Education targets DEI and racial equity policies

The U.S. Department of Education is implementing new policies targeting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives and racial equity practices in higher education. Following an executive order from President Donald Trump in January 2025, the Department of Education has notified universities that it will investigate and potentially sever federal funding from institutions that maintain DEI programs deemed illegal by the administration.

Academics have expressed concern that these federal actions are leading to the scaling back or elimination of Black studies programs at various colleges, including the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Shaun Harper of the University of Southern California noted that institutions are defunding departments that have historically enriched campuses to avoid federal scrutiny.

Additionally, the Department of Education has issued guidance to end what it terms ‘racial balancing’ in school disciplinary policies. Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey stated that previous policies, which allowed for scrutiny based on disproportionate disciplinary data, often required schools to discipline students differently based on race. The department has also rescinded several disparate impact provisions that previously allowed universities to be found in violation of Title VI based solely on demographic data.