Education Dept. Warns Schools to End Race-Based Programs or Lose Funding
The Education Department issued a stern warning to schools on Friday, saying they could lose federal funding if race plays any role in student life, including scholarships and hiring.
The letter, which gives schools 14 days to comply, goes beyond the Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling against affirmative action in admissions. The new guidance covers decisions about financial aid, faculty hiring, cultural events, student housing, and even separate graduation ceremonies based on race.
“At its core, the test is simple: If an educational institution treats a person of one race differently than it treats another person because of that person’s race, the educational institution violates the law,” wrote Craig Trainor, the department’s acting assistant secretary for civil rights for the Education Department.
The directive appears to be part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to roll back diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Trainor criticized programs that seek to level the playing field for underrepresented students, saying they often come at the expense of “white and Asian students, many of whom come from disadvantaged backgrounds.”
The Education Department’s warning has already prompted action from some schools. West Point recently disbanded 12 affinity groups, including the National Society of Black Engineers and the Asian-Pacific Forum Club, while other colleges canceled cultural celebrations, suspended forums on race, and ended DEI course requirements. Adding to the shakeup, the department announced it had canceled $600 million in grants for teacher training in “inappropriate and unnecessary topics” like critical race theory, social justice activism, and antiracism.
With colleges scrambling to interpret the new rules, many expect legal challenges, particularly around hiring practices, which were not addressed in the Supreme Court’s ruling on affirmative action.
