Colleges and universities across the country are adjusting to President Donald Trump’s crackdown on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Issued on January 20, 2025, Trump’s executive order requires federal agencies to eliminate consideration of DEI from funding applications. Compliance with this executive order is necessary for institutions to continue receiving federal funding.
Schools like North Carolina State University (NC State) are directly affected by this enforcement. NC State officials recently announced they would cease specific DEI activities outlined within their research project solicitations to comply with the federal directive. A spokesperson for the university remarked, "Following federal directives on sponsored programs (research), NC State's guidance is to cease specific DEI activities. Other project work can continue.” This bifurcation of activities led to some confusion among students who are left wondering how this directive will alter their academic environment.
DEI initiatives focus on promoting equal treatment and advocating for the inclusion of historically underrepresented groups, such as women, racial minorities, and veterans. Despite this intention, Trump has publicly criticized DEI programs, labeling them as forms of discrimination rather than mechanisms for equitable representation. During his campaign, he declared plans to penalize colleges with endowments exceeding $1 billion if they fail to comply with his mandate.
Compounded by these new directives, the University of North Carolina Board of Governors (BOG) voted to dismantle its DEI programs entirely back in May 2024. They asserted these changes saved around $17 million across its 17 campuses. Not only did these actions involve budgetary adjustments, but the university also reevaluated almost 200 positions within DEI offices, leading to significant realignments at its institutions.
At Rutgers University, where students from historically Black colleges were set to attend a conference, faculty member Marybeth Gasman received disheartening news. An email from the department contractor informed her of the cancellation due to funding shifts tied to the DEI crackdown. “It feels like a punch in the gut,” remarked Gasman, who oversees initiatives aimed at serving minority groups. The abrupt halt to collaborative projects exemplifies the immediate effects of the Trump administration’s policies.
Many academic institutions fear the repercussions not only of curtailed funding but also the chilling effect these federal policies could impose on campus climates. “We are also seeing institutions preemptively re-evaluing courses, programs, and even administrative positions,” explained Paulette Granberry Russell, president of the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education. According to Russell, institutions must tread carefully to avoid severe repercussions.
Despite the explicit government pressure to curtail DEI programming, some institutions are attempting to adapt without formally renouncing their commitments to diversity. For example, Northeastern University initiated changes to its DEI office, renaming it to focus on “belonging” rather than diversity initiatives. A university spokesperson emphasized, “While internal structures and approaches may need to be adjusted, the university’s core values don’t change.”
Faculty at various universities express concern about the potential erasure of long-standing efforts to increase diversity within their institutions. Cameron Jones, a professor at California Polytechnic State University, voiced worries about the broader impact on students of color. “We’re worried even indirect pressure might lead administrators to back off programs benefiting students of color,” Jones said, highlighting fears about possible regression during these politically charged times.
On the other hand, some educators and advocates remain steadfast, drawing from their experiences of imposing restrictive measures on previous progressive initiatives. Sheldon Fields, president of the National Black Nursing Association, recounted the challenges he faced amid similar scenarios over the years. “People have spent their entire careers working on certain areas. They’re not going to completely abandon them,” he stated, reflecting determination among educators to continue fighting for inclusivity against governmental pressures.
Students, like NC State's Ashton Sumpter, are eager to learn about how these changes will affect their education. Sumpter had seen Trump signing executive orders during his inauguration, expressing hope for future communication from the university about these new mandates.
With colleges resuming classes and grappling with these federal Directives, the future of DEI across the higher education spectrum may hang precariously. Institutions might be forced to compromise their integrity or undertake significant actions to comply with the government’s stance. Yet, the illusions of silence may be short-lived as the discourse surrounding diversity and inclusion persistently resonates across campuses and the larger society. The evolution of policies and programs addressing DEI will undoubtedly continue to reflect the contentious climate impacting higher education today.