As the Donald Trump administration’s deadline for schools and colleges to eliminate diversity programs approaches, few institutions are openly rushing to comply, according to reports. The directive threatens to withhold federal funding from those that do not comply by Friday.
Many institutions believe they are on solid legal ground, arguing that cutting off federal funding would be unprecedented and time-consuming. Officials in Washington and California advised schools not to make changes, asserting that the directive does not alter federal law or require immediate action. New York City schools have taken the same stance, maintaining their existing policies.
Some college leaders have dismissed the directive entirely. Antioch University’s president stated that “most of higher education” will not comply unless federal law is changed. Similarly, Western Michigan University’s president told his campus to “please proceed as usual.”
RELATED STORIES
The Donald Trump administration’s Feb. 14 memo, formally a Dear Colleague Letter, gave schools two weeks to halt any practice that treats individuals differently based on race.
On Thursday, the Education Department launched an “End DEI” portal, inviting students, parents, and others to report race- or sex-based discrimination in public schools, which officials say will help identify investigation targets, AP reported.
Critics argue that the memo is an overreach designed to instill fear. The guidance appears to ban lessons on racism, diversity recruitment efforts, and even voluntary student groups like Black student unions. Education organizations have urged caution, advising schools not to make hasty changes that could be difficult to reverse. Ted Mitchell, president of the American Council on Education, reassured colleges that if they were in compliance with federal law before the memo, they still are.
“There’s nothing to act on until we see the administration attempt to enforce this,” Mitchell said. “And then we’ll fight it.”
Although losing federal funding would be devastating, imposing such a penalty is neither quick nor simple. The Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights, which handles investigations, had fewer than 600 employees last year before Trump’s staff cuts—while the U.S. has over 18,000 school districts and 6,000 colleges. Even when an institution faces investigation, terminating funding can take years. For example, under the Biden administration, an effort to cut funding from Michigan’s education agency over disability rights violations has been tied up in court since 2022.
Despite resistance, some education leaders see compliance as the safer option. At the University of Cincinnati, President Neville G. Pinto said officials are reviewing DEI-related positions and removing DEI references from school websites. Tony Frank, chancellor of the Colorado State University system, initially considered challenging the directive but ultimately advised compliance, citing potential risks to students and staff.
In Republican-led states, some education officials welcomed the memo. Alabama’s state superintendent, Eric G. Mackey, said his department already avoided race-based decision-making and anticipated no disruptions.
The memo argues that DEI initiatives have often disadvantaged white and Asian American students. While it lacks the force of law, it signals the administration’s intent to apply last year’s Supreme Court ruling against race-based college admissions to all areas of education, including hiring, scholarships, campus housing, graduation ceremonies, and student life.
The American Federation of Teachers is challenging the directive in court, arguing it violates free speech laws. Some schools have quietly removed equity-related language from their websites, while others are awaiting legal guidance. Christine Tucci Osorio, superintendent of the North St. Paul School District in Minnesota, described the directive as confusing and assured staff that events like African American History Month celebrations would continue.
Despite concerns that schools would rush to comply, “cooler heads are largely prevailing,” said Liz King, senior director for the education equity program at the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.
“When a school signals that it won’t stand up for part of its community, that breaks trust,” King said.
Trump has previously vowed to use education funding as political leverage, threatening cuts over issues like transgender participation in girls’ sports and race-related instruction. Civil rights investigations typically take at least six months, often longer. If a school is found in violation of federal law, it is usually given 90 days to come into compliance before funding is revoked.
Historically, the Education Department has rarely succeeded in pulling federal funds. The last known attempt was in 1992 against California’s Capistrano Unified School District over a sex discrimination case. The district reinstated the affected teacher before the penalty could be enforced, avoiding financial consequences.
