US President Donald Trump has ordered universities to submit detailed enrollment data to prove they are not factoring race into admissions decisions, in compliance with a 2023 Supreme Court ruling that banned affirmative action based on race.
The ruling permits schools to consider an applicant’s personal experiences with race, but in a memorandum, Trump argued that the “persistent lack of available data — paired with the rampant use of ‘diversity statements’ and other overt and hidden racial proxies” raises concerns that race may still be influencing admissions.
Since returning to the White House, Trump has intensified his campaign against what he calls “wokery” in higher education, targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in both academia and government. He claims such initiatives discriminate against white people and create “shameful, dangerous racial hierarchies.”
Under the new order, universities must expand their reporting to the National Center for Education Statistics to ensure “adequate transparency into admissions.” Specific reporting requirements will be released at a later date.
Trump has increasingly used federal funding as leverage against institutions he accuses of liberal bias, anti-Semitism, and hostility toward conservatives. His administration has already cut or frozen research budgets, with Columbia University becoming the most high-profile target.
Columbia lost hundreds of millions in federal funding after allegations it failed to address anti-Semitism on campus during pro-Palestinian protests. The university later agreed to pay $200 million to the government and $21 million to settle the dispute, while also agreeing — alongside Brown University — to provide admissions data, including race and test scores, to federal authorities.
Trump’s directive marks a significant expansion of federal oversight in university admissions and is expected to intensify debates over race, fairness, and free speech on US campuses.
