In a new move, President Donald Trump has intensified his scrutiny of American colleges and the organizations that accredit them, as part of a broader strategy to dismantle initiatives he perceives as overly progressive or focused on diversity. In a string of executive orders issued on Wednesday, Trump honed in on higher education institutions he considers politically adversarial. One directive demands stricter enforcement of a federal mandate for colleges to report financial relationships with international sources. Another calls for a restructuring of accrediting organizations that determine colleges’ eligibility for federal financial aid.
Moreover, Trump has commanded the Department of Education to eliminate endeavors aimed at ensuring equitable discipline practices in K-12 schools throughout the nation. Guidance from previous Democratic administrations sought to prevent the unequal punishment of minority groups, such as Black and Native American students. However, the current administration argues that these equity efforts equate to racial discrimination.
Financial ties with foreign entities have been a persistent concern, particularly within Republican circles, due partly to apprehensions about affiliations with nations adversarial to the United States, like China. This issue has gained renewed prominence amidst the White House’s escalating conflict with Harvard University. The administration asserts that Harvard and similar institutions repeatedly fail to comply with a federal disclosure law that has seen uneven enforcement since its inception in the 1980s. Known as Section 117 of the Higher Education Act, this law mandates the reporting of foreign gifts and contracts that reach or exceed $250,000.
Recently, the Department of Education has been requiring Harvard to provide documentation of their foreign financial agreements from the past ten years, alleging that the university provided “incomplete and inaccurate disclosures.” The Trump administration’s tension with Harvard extends to disagreements over its handling of pro-Palestinian demonstrations and its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
The executive order from Trump prompts the Department of Education and the Department of Justice to intensify enforcement of the foreign funding disclosure law, insisting on punitive measures against non-compliant colleges, including the potential cessation of federal funding. This move aims to “end the secrecy surrounding foreign funds in American educational institutions,” a sentiment that has been met with approval among Republicans, such as Rep. Tim Walberg of Michigan, who cited concerns over China leveraging academic partnerships to pilfer research and foster ideological influence over students.
Trump’s actions also extend to accreditation bodies. An executive order instructs these groups to abandon DEI requirements in favor of concentrating on student outcomes, such as graduation rates and performance in the job market. The administration contends that current accreditation practices, which are purportedly dominated by a ‘Marxist’ mentality, place undue focus on ideological conformity rather than measurable educational results.
Additionally, the president is calling for an overhaul of the process through which new accrediting bodies receive federal authorization. He argues that the current procedure is unnecessarily complex and time-consuming, advocating for a more transparent and streamlined approach.
In a further nod to his opposition to equity methods in education, Trump ordered a shift in school discipline practices, advocating a “common sense” approach where judgment is based on student behavior alone. He instructed government agencies to abandon reliance on “disparate impact theories,” which challenge policies impacting minorities disproportionately, regardless of intent. These reforms mark a continuation of changes initiated in his first administration, though they face resistance from existing civil rights regulations.
Another directive outlines the creation of a federal task force aimed at incorporating artificial intelligence training into education, starting as early as kindergarten. This task force seeks to develop new digital learning resources to better prepare students for careers in technology and related fields.
Trump is also launching an initiative to boost Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), striving to forge partnerships with the private sector and enhance the institutions’ role in preparing students for careers in booming industries like technology and finance.