In a sweeping move, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights has declared race-based scholarships, cultural centers, and graduation ceremonies illegal, signaling a significant shift in federal policy.
Over the weekend, the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) issued a letter prohibiting all race-conscious college programming and spending. The directive states that institutions failing to comply within 14 days could face federal investigations and potential funding cuts.
Expanding the Supreme Court’s Ruling
The letter, signed by Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor, presents a broad interpretation of the 2023 Supreme Court ruling in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, which ended affirmative action in college admissions. While the ruling specifically addressed admissions, the Education Department is extending its reach to all race-conscious activities in higher education.
“In recent years, American educational institutions have discriminated against students on the basis of race, including white and Asian students,” Trainor wrote. “These institutions’ reliance on race-based preferences has permeated all aspects of academia.”
The directive lists several areas subject to OCR review, including hiring, scholarships, housing, graduation ceremonies, student organizations, and academic support services. Trainor emphasized that “educational institutions may neither separate nor segregate students based on race, nor distribute benefits or burdens based on race.”
Immediate Backlash and Concerns
The announcement sparked criticism from Democratic lawmakers, student advocates, and academic organizations. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) condemned the directive, calling it an overreach: “This goes well beyond the Supreme Court ruling on admissions,” Rosenberg said. “In my career, I’ve never seen language like this from any U.S. government agency.”
A Broader Crackdown on Diversity Initiatives
The OCR’s letter also seeks to eliminate race-neutral policies that could indirectly promote racial diversity, such as test-optional admissions. It further bans universities from using personal essays, extracurricular activities, or other cues to infer a student’s race in the admissions process.
Trainor also criticized DEI initiatives that teach students about racial disparities, arguing that such programs can “deny students the ability to participate fully in academic life.”
What Comes Next?
The Education Department has never before revoked federal funding over Title VI violations. If OCR follows through, it would mark an unprecedented federal intervention in university policies.
