DOE Press Release Lists Admin’s DEI Wins
The Trump administration is escalating its campaign against diversity, equity, and inclusion policies, and it is now presenting a growing list of concrete outcomes across higher education and related institutions. A year into the president’s second term, the Department of Education is framing these developments as measurable shifts rather than symbolic victories.
According to department figures, more than 300 colleges and universities have taken steps to dismantle DEI frameworks. These actions range from removing diversity statements in hiring processes to restructuring or eliminating dedicated DEI offices. At least 175 institutions have altered or shut down such offices, while roughly 95 have reassigned or eliminated staff roles tied to DEI functions. In parallel, dozens of schools have scrubbed DEI language from official platforms, and several have abandoned racially segregated graduation ceremonies.
The administration has also focused on standardized testing and scholarship criteria. The College Board revised its National Recognition Program after federal scrutiny concluded that the framework disproportionately benefited certain racial groups. The changes were positioned as a move toward race-neutral evaluation standards.
Several enforcement actions highlight how the administration is using federal law to pressure compliance. The University of Pennsylvania reached a resolution after a Title IX investigation, agreeing to restore women’s athletic records, adopt biological definitions of sex, and issue formal apologies to affected athletes. The agreement also removed a previously awarded national title from a transgender swimmer, according to university records.
In California, federal authorities concluded that state education policies violated parental rights under FERPA by allowing schools to withhold information about students’ gender transitions. The U.S. Supreme Court supported that position in a related case, stating that such policies likely infringe on parents’ authority over their children’s upbringing. The fallout has extended into healthcare, with at least 20 university-affiliated hospitals scaling back or ending certain gender-related treatments for minors.
A similar Title IX enforcement action targeted a Colorado school district. Federal investigators found that policies allowing transgender students access to female facilities and sports teams were noncompliant. The district agreed to revise those policies, adopt biological definitions of sex, and publicly affirm its adherence to federal law.
The administration has also intervened in academic recruitment pipelines. Thirty-one institutions ended partnerships with The Ph.D. Project after federal findings that the program restricted eligibility based on race, violating the Civil Rights Act.
Athletics governance has shifted as well. The NCAA updated its participation rules in 2025, limiting women’s competition to athletes assigned female at birth while keeping men’s categories open. The rule change took effect immediately and aligned with the administration’s broader Title IX interpretation.
Additional changes include the reinstatement of standardized testing requirements at multiple universities, including several Ivy League schools. The administration argues that these steps mark a return to merit-based systems and a rollback of policies it characterizes as discriminatory.