President Trump’s Executive Order signed on January 21, 2025, aimed at dismantling DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) programs in higher education and federal institutions. It specifically focuses on halting illegal DEI policies that violate civil rights laws, asserting that these programs harm national unity and undermine merit-based opportunities. The Order mandates that federal contractors certify their compliance with these anti-DEI standards, making school administrators accountable for noncompliance. This shifts responsibility from faceless committees to individual signatories who must ensure schools aren’t involved in discriminatory identity-based practices.
The Order rescinds previous policies promoting affirmative action, diversity, and other DEI-related programs from past administrations, and prohibits federal contractors from considering race, sex, or other identity factors in hiring or employment practices. Importantly, it enforces compliance by requiring agencies to investigate potential violations, including within institutions with significant endowments, like Ivy League schools. This is seen as a strategic starting point for enforcement since these wealthy institutions often set the tone for the rest of higher education.
The Order also references the 2023 SFFA Supreme Court decision, which banned racial preferences in university admissions, and directs the Attorney General and Secretary of Education to provide guidance for compliance with this ruling. Ultimately, the goal is to depoliticize education, eliminate racial preferences, and restore merit-based standards across higher education in the U.S.
