Concerns are mounting over the future of college student groups based on race and ethnicity as President Donald Trump escalates his crackdown on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.
In a recent directive, the Department of Education issued a two-week deadline for universities across the United States to dismantle all DEI programs or risk losing federal funding. The mandate, outlined in a four-page letter dated February 14, 2025, was signed by Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor.
The letter cited the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, emphasizing that the decision not only ended racial preferences in college admissions but also set a broader legal precedent against race-based discrimination. Universities were warned that any differential treatment based on race, color, or national origin would be considered a violation of civil rights laws.
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The Department also criticized DEI initiatives, arguing that practices such as race-based graduation ceremonies promote “racial segregation” and calling them a “shameful echo of a darker period in this country’s history.” The letter made it clear that the administration would not tolerate what it described as both overt and covert racial discrimination within educational institutions.
In response, groups such as the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education have raised concerns about the potential impact on student groups, including Black fraternities and sororities, which were originally formed in response to segregation and discrimination.
Paulette Grandberry Russell, the group’s CEO and president, expressed fears that the administration may attempt to restrict student organizations based on race, ethnicity, gender, religion, and other cultural identities.
“There is legitimate concern that the new administration may seek to restrict student organizations, including registered student organizations, and perhaps even fraternities and sororities with a nondiscriminatory focus on race, ethnicity, gender, religion and other cultural identities that the DOE determines are prohibited,” she said in a statement to The Hill.
Marybeth Gasman, executive director at the Center for Minority Serving Institutions at Rutgers University, echoed these concerns, arguing that the Trump administration’s interpretation of “race neutrality” is flawed.
Gasman warned that any attempt to dismantle racial affinity groups under the guise of enforcing race neutrality would likely face legal challenges, as free association is strongly protected under the First Amendment.
“I am concerned that the Trump administration could target student organizations that are racial affinity groups. They will claim they are enforcing ‘race neutrality’ — which makes no sense,” Gasman also told The Hill. “legal precedent strongly protects the right of free association per the First Amendment, which means that any attempts to end these organizations would end up in the courts.”
Sara Partridge, associate director of higher education at the Center for American Progress, described the administration’s approach as unprecedented. She pointed out that, historically, institutions found in violation of civil rights laws have been given the opportunity to amend their policies before facing federal funding cuts. Taking such a drastic step, she argued, would be a significant departure from established protocols and could cause widespread harm to students.
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