The U.S. Education Department issued a warning to educational institutions on Friday, stating that they could lose federal funding if they consider race in scholarship and hiring processes or reference race in other areas of student and campus life. This notice provided schools with a two-week window for compliance and builds on a significant Supreme Court ruling from 2023, which deemed race-conscious admissions policies at higher education institutions unlawful. Notably, the new directive extends the ruling’s implications, indicating that any consideration of race in staffing decisions or resource allocations could lead to penalties.

This letter represents the latest move in the previous Trump administration’s efforts to redefine programs designed to support historically marginalized groups as racial discrimination. It also appears to align with President Trump’s broader campaign against federal diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, which critics argue mask underlying racism.

Craig Trainor, acting assistant secretary for civil rights at the Education Department, commented that programs and scholarships intended to assist Black and Latino students often disadvantaged “white and Asian students, many of whom also come from underprivileged backgrounds.”

He clarified, stating, “The fundamental criterion is straightforward: If a school differentiates between individuals based on their race, it violates legal standards.” Trainor emphasized that educational institutions are prohibited from segregating students by race or distributing advantages and disadvantages based on race.

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