US President Donald Trump has signed an order directing universities to provide detailed enrollment data to show they are not factoring race into admissions decisions.
The move comes after the Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling that affirmative action based on race in higher education admissions is unlawful, though the court allowed consideration of applicants’ personal statements describing their racial experiences.
In a memorandum issued Thursday, Trump argued that the “persistent lack of available data—paired with the rampant use of ‘diversity statements’ and other overt and hidden racial proxies—continues to raise concerns about whether race is actually used in practice.” He described the directive as a necessary step toward transparency, saying, “Greater transparency is essential to exposing unlawful practices and ultimately ridding society of shameful, dangerous racial hierarchies.”
Since returning to the presidency, Trump has mounted an aggressive campaign against what he calls the ideological bias of US universities, accusing them of fostering anti-conservative sentiment, tolerating anti-Semitism, and promoting “wokery.” His administration has already taken steps to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in government, claiming they discriminate against white people.
Under the order, universities will be required to expand reporting to the National Center for Education Statistics to ensure “adequate transparency into admissions,” with specific requirements to be outlined later. Trump has also leveraged federal funding as a tool to push universities toward changes in curriculum, admissions, and other operations.
The administration’s pressure campaign has included significant funding cuts to research programs. Columbia University became the first high-profile target after Trump accused it of failing to address anti-Semitism following pro-Palestinian protests. The school lost access to hundreds of millions in federal research grants, forcing lab closures and layoffs.
Last month, Columbia agreed to pay $200 million to the government, plus $21 million to settle an anti-Semitism probe. Columbia and Brown University have reportedly already committed to sharing admissions data—including race and test scores—as part of their settlements over alleged violations of anti-discrimination laws.
What you should know
President Trump’s order intensifies federal oversight of university admissions following the Supreme Court’s 2023 affirmative action ban. The directive aims to force universities to prove they are race-neutral in admissions, with expanded data reporting requirements to come.
The move is part of Trump’s broader effort to reshape higher education, using funding as leverage and targeting institutions he claims promote ideological bias and fail to address campus anti-Semitism.
