Trump Administration Announces Revisions to University Gender and DEI Policies

The Department of Education under the Donald Trump administration announced measures regarding gender and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies at universities nationwide, stating it is attempting to change DEI practices and race-conscious approaches in higher education. The department noted that DEI policies have been abolished at over 300 universities, and 45 have removed related statements. At least 15 universities have stopped using DEI statements in faculty hiring, and over 175 have eliminated or restructured existing DEI offices.

The College Board, which administers the standardized SAT exam, revised its national accreditation program standards following the Education Department's directives. The department explained these revisions as measures that previously favored certain racial groups and disproportionately awarded scholarships to low-income students.

The Education Department determined that the University of Pennsylvania violated Title IX regulations. The university has signed a resolution agreement that includes restoring women's swimming records and adopting biological definitions for men and women. It is also set to send individual apology letters to affected female swimmers and issue a public statement of compliance.

These actions by the Education Department are being assessed as a process to restore safety and fairness for female athletes. Analyses suggest this serves as an example demonstrating that educational institutions cannot infringe upon women's rights.

The Education Department is monitoring DEI-related budget allocations and policy-making processes in schools and is responding to attempts to circumvent legal statutes. The Goldwater Institute had previously requested state attorneys general to investigate, citing that some universities are trying to evade legal provisions opposing DEI.