More than 50 universities are under investigation for alleged racial discrimination in response to President Donald Trump’s initiative to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion programs that reportedly disadvantage white and Asian American students. The Education Department recently launched these investigations following a memo warning educational institutions about potential financial penalties for implementing “race-based preferences” in admissions and student life. Education Secretary Linda McMahon emphasized the importance of evaluating students based on merit rather than skin color.

The focus of the investigations is on colleges’ collaborations with the PhD Project, a nonprofit aimed at increasing diversity in business education. The Education Department alleges that these partnerships engage in race-exclusionary practices in graduate programs, targeting colleges like Arizona State, Ohio State, Yale, and MIT. Additionally, six colleges are being scrutinized for offering impermissible race-based scholarships, while one institution is accused of promoting racial segregation among students.

This increased scrutiny stems from a broad interpretation of a 2023 Supreme Court decision prohibiting the use of race in college admissions, which the Education Department extends to all aspects of education. The memo from the Trump administration asserted that diversity efforts in schools have introduced racial stereotypes and race-consciousness into educational practices. The memo faces legal challenges from prominent teachers’ unions, which argue that it infringes on educators’ free speech rights.