One of the most popular positions of the second Trump administration that is driving Donald Trump’s skyrocketing approval ratings at the moment is the position to rid the nation of unfair Diversity, Equity & Inclusion policies that end up discriminating against individuals on the basis of race and gender. The American people have overwhelmingly made it clear that they are generally against any such policies because they end up being unfair for certain people.

Donald Trump has signed executive orders designed to gut DEI initiatives out of federal agencies, arguing that they have made these agencies ineffective and only serve to waste taxpayer dollars. That’s not all, though. He also has his eyes set on schooling public institutions that have, over the past few years, been greatly infected by “woke” DEI policies.

The Trump administration is intensifying its efforts to challenge what it describes as “wokeness” in American education, giving schools and universities a two-week deadline to eliminate diversity initiatives or risk losing federal funding. The Department of Education issued a memo on Friday, presenting an ultimatum for institutions to stop using “racial preferences” in admissions, financial aid, hiring, and other areas. The directive gives educational institutions 14 days to cease any practice that treats students or employees differently based on race.

This new policy follows the effort to address what the administration claims is widespread discrimination in educational institutions, often affecting white and Asian students. As a result, educators at colleges and universities across the country are scrambling to assess their current practices, with many questioning whether they should challenge the directive or comply with the new rules.

The memo has significant implications for campus operations, affecting various aspects of academic life from college application essays to classroom teachings and student organizations. The directive, in essence, demands a dramatic shift in how diversity is approached on campus, warning that failure to comply could result in serious financial consequences.

Admissions Based On Race And Gender “Unfair”, According To Trump Allies

Craig Trainor, acting assistant secretary for civil rights, stated, “Schools have been operating on the pretext that selecting students for ‘diversity’ or similar euphemisms is not selecting them based on race. No longer. Students should be assessed according to merit, accomplishment and character.” The memo claims that universities have been hiding behind terms like “diversity” to continue racially selective practices, and this new directive aims to bring an end to such practices.

The memo extends the impact of President Donald Trump’s executive order, which had already banned diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in educational institutions. It references the 2023 Supreme Court ruling, which ruled that race could not be considered as a factor in college admissions. “Put simply, educational institutions may neither separate or segregate students based on race, nor distribute benefits or burdens based on race,” the memo stated.

On Monday, the Department of Education also made a significant move by cutting $600 million in grants for teacher training programs, arguing that these programs were promoting what it called “divisive” concepts such as DEI, critical race theory, and social justice activism. This decision further escalates the administration’s push to eliminate what it sees as politically charged educational content from schools.

The new guidelines also prohibit colleges from using essays as a way to indirectly factor race into the admissions process. The Supreme Court ruling, as explained by Chief Justice John Roberts, allows colleges to consider how race has influenced an applicant’s life, but cautions that schools cannot use essays as a means to circumvent the prohibition on considering race in admissions.

The memo further clarifies that eliminating standardized testing requirements to promote racial diversity is also unlawful. Over the past few years, many colleges have dropped SAT and ACT requirements, citing concerns that these tests disproportionately benefit students from wealthier families. However, the new policy seems to take aim at such practices, reinforcing the idea that race-based admissions policies are not acceptable.

Additionally, the memo targets scholarships that are designated for students of specific racial backgrounds. While there has been some legal debate regarding the scope of the Supreme Court’s ruling and whether it applies to financial aid, several institutions have already decided to eliminate racial requirements for certain scholarships to comply with the law.

This push to dismantle diversity initiatives comes as Trump continues to call for the elimination of the Department of Education altogether, further emphasizing his administration’s stance on reducing federal involvement in education. Additionally, Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has taken steps to reduce federal spending by cutting numerous contracts deemed wasteful.

DOGE also scored a legal victory on Monday when a federal judge ruled that it could access federal student loan records, despite attempts to block this action from the University of California Student Association. The judge ruled that the plaintiff had not demonstrated that it was harmed by DOGE’s access to the records, allowing the program to move forward with its efforts to eliminate what it considers unnecessary and inefficient government programs.

What do you think about this executive move from President Trump and his White House allies? Let us know in the comments below.