Trump’s anti-DEI campaign sparks federal probes into over 50 universities for alleged racial discrimination – The Times of India

The US Department of Education has launched investigations into more than 50 universities across the country, examining whether their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs violate federal regulations. This move is part of the Trump administration‘s ongoing campaign to dismantle such initiatives, which the former president’s officials claim discriminate against white and Asian American students. The investigations, announced on March 14, 2025, come on the heels of a February memo warning educational institutions that they could lose federal funding if they continue using “race-based preferences” in any area of student life.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon emphasized that “students must be assessed according to merit and accomplishment, not prejudged by the color of their skin” in a statement, underscoring the administration’s commitment to enforcing this stance, as reported by the Associated Press. This sweeping initiative, which affects both public and private institutions, marks a significant expansion of efforts to eliminate what Trump officials call race-conscious policies in education.
Focus on diversity partnerships and race-based scholarships
A significant portion of the investigations centers on colleges’ partnerships with the PhD Project, a nonprofit organization that supports students from underrepresented groups pursuing business degrees. The Department of Education has stated that these partnerships, which limit eligibility based on race, may lead to “race-exclusionary practices” in graduate programs. Institutions involved in such collaborations include renowned universities like Arizona State, Ohio State, Rutgers, Yale, Cornell, Duke, and MIT, all of which are now under scrutiny.
In response to these allegations, Arizona State University announced it would not support the PhD Project financially or allow faculty to attend its conference. Similarly, Ohio State University clarified that it does not discriminate on the basis of race, emphasizing that its PhD programs are open to all qualified applicants, as quoted by the Associated Press.
Additional investigations into race-based scholarships
The federal investigations also target six universities for allegedly offering “impermissible race-based scholarships.” These institutions include Grand Valley State University, Ithaca College, the New England College of Optometry, the University of Alabama, the University of South Florida, and the University of Oklahoma at Tulsa.
Moreover, the University of Minnesota is being probed for potentially operating a program that segregates students based on race. This latest round of investigations comes in the wake of a broader initiative spurred by a June 2023 Supreme Court ruling that prohibited race-based considerations in college admissions.
The Education Department’s actions have already prompted legal challenges from the nation’s two largest teachers’ unions, which argue that the new memo is too vague and infringes on free speech rights, as reported by the Associated Press. The future of DEI programs in US higher education hangs in the balance as the legal and public debates continue to unfold.