Former U.S. President Donald Trump, now back in office, has issued a new directive to American universities. He wants them to provide full enrollment records to prove they are not considering race when admitting students. This move follows a 2023 Supreme Court ruling that banned race-based affirmative action in college admissions.
Though the court ruling still allows schools to look at how race has shaped a student’s life, Trump says many schools may be ignoring that limit. In a memo, he claimed that “diversity statements” and hidden race-based policies could still be affecting how students are selected.
Since returning to power, Trump has ramped up his pushback against what he calls “woke” culture in universities. He is especially targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. Trump believes these initiatives unfairly favor minority groups and discriminate against white students, leading to what he calls “dangerous racial divisions.”
Under this new order, colleges will have to give more detailed reports to the National Center for Education Statistics. The aim is to shine more light on how admissions decisions are made. Details about what data schools must submit will be released soon.
Trump is also using financial pressure to force changes in higher education. He’s slashed or frozen funding for schools he accuses of being anti-conservative or anti-Semitic. Columbia University is one of the most high-profile examples of this.
Columbia lost major federal funding after it was accused of not taking proper action against anti-Semitic behavior during pro-Palestinian protests on campus. To resolve the matter, Columbia paid $200 million to the government and another $21 million in a separate settlement. Along with Brown University, they agreed to provide detailed data on race and test scores in future admissions reports.
Trump’s latest move shows his desire to increase federal involvement in college admissions. It’s expected to fuel ongoing debates in the U.S. about race, fairness, and freedom of expression in education.
