- President Donald Trump signed an executive order to eliminate federal funding for schools and colleges with diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies or contractors implementing such practices.
- The order targets K-12 schools and colleges receiving federal aid, including special education and low-income programs, as well as Pell Grant recipients. Non-compliance within 120 days may lead to loss of federal funding.
- The directive authorizes civil compliance investigations targeting institutions with endowments exceeding $1 billion, potentially impacting prestigious universities and colleges.
- The executive order claims to restore merit-based practices and equal opportunity, but critics argue it undermines student growth and support.
- The order has received mixed reactions, with supporters like Parents Defending Education hailing it as a step towards merit-based practices, while critics like the National Education Association argue it does little to help students learn and grow.
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that would eliminate federal funding for schools and colleges that mandate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies or engage with contractors implementing such practices.
The executive order, titled "Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity," targets K-12 schools receiving federal aid for special education and low-income programs, as well as colleges and universities reliant on federal student loan programs, such as Pell Grants. Educational institutions must comply with the new mandate within 120 days or face the loss of federal funding. (Related: FBI shuts down DEI office days before Trump takes office and vows to end "woke virus.")
Under the directive, the Attorney General, the Department of Education and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) will identify "the most egregious and discriminatory practitioners" in each education sector. The order also authorizes up to nine civil compliance investigations targeting institutions with endowments exceeding $1 billion, potentially implicating some of the nation's most prestigious universities and colleges.
"Illegal DEI and DEIA policies not only violate the text and spirit of our longstanding Federal civil-rights laws, they also undermine our national unity… Hardworking Americans who deserve a shot at the American Dream should not be stigmatized, demeaned or shut out of opportunities because of their race or sex," the executive order included, explicitly criticizing DEI initiatives.
The directive also extends to credentialing agencies under the Council of Higher Education Accreditation, as federally funded research and other programs rely on compliance with accreditation standards. Additionally, the measure seeks to reshape the allocation of federal funds across educational institutions.
Furthermore, the White House stated that the executive order is designed to ensure that federal funds are used to support educational institutions that adhere to principles of fairness and equal opportunity, without the imposition of what they view as divisive and discriminatory policies.
Eliminating DEI programs education will restore merit-based practices
The National Education Association (NEA) criticized the order, arguing that it does little to help students learn and grow.
"Most Americans believe that every student deserves opportunity, resources and support to reach their full potential no matter where they live, the color of their skin or how much their family earns. Donald Trump's actions today do nothing to help students learn and grow, nothing to support parents and nothing to assist educators in inspiring their students to learn and helping them succeed," said NEA President Becky Pringle.
Critics have also raised concerns about the broader implications of the order. Neal McCluskey, director of the Cato Institute's Center for Education Freedom, warned that smaller federally funded programs, such as those supporting accelerated learning recovery, nutrition and career and technical education, could lose funding if contractors or schools support DEI initiatives.
But Nicki Neily, the founder and president of Parents Defending Education, hailed the executive order as a crucial step toward restoring merit-based practices.
"President Trump's executive orders eliminating DEI programs in education mark a crucial step toward restoring schools' focus on American exceptionalism and academic achievement. These orders honor parental rights, foster critical thinking and shield students from indoctrination," Neily said.
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