President Donald Trump has signed a series of executive orders aimed at reshaping the U.S. higher education landscape. The latest measures, signed in the Oval Office, focus on dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts within universities, seeking to impose stricter regulations on accreditation processes, financial disclosures, and university funding.
The orders also seek to address concerns regarding foreign financial influence and the need for more oversight of accreditation bodies. By enforcing these changes, the Trump administration intends to shift the ideological balance in higher education while introducing measures to support Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
Rewriting Accreditation Standards
One of the central components of Trump’s executive actions is the overhaul of the accreditation system, a move that could significantly impact universities across the country. The administration has long targeted accrediting bodies, accusing them of fostering an ideological bias that undermines academic quality.
According to reports, these bodies have been blamed for prioritizing DEI-related standards over merit, and the president has referred to them as “radical-left accreditors”.
The new directive allows the Education Department to suspend or even terminate the recognition of accreditors that impose such standards. It also facilitates the entry of new accreditation bodies, which would potentially offer a different set of guidelines, focused on outcomes like graduation rates and job market performance rather than DEI principles.
This move is seen as an attempt to reduce the influence of political and social ideologies in academic institutions.
Scrutinizing Foreign Ties and Financial Transparency
Another key focus of the orders concerns foreign donations to U.S. universities. Trump’s administration has sought to tighten oversight of financial gifts, particularly those from countries seen as adversaries to the U.S., such as China.
The new regulations demand greater transparency from universities regarding the source and purpose of foreign funding, with significant penalties for non-compliance.
These actions come in the wake of tensions with institutions like Harvard University, which has been criticized for its handling of foreign financial ties. The Trump administration has threatened to cut federal funding to institutions that fail to disclose these relationships, arguing that the lack of transparency undermines national security and academic integrity.
The ongoing battle over these policies represents a fundamental shift in how the federal government interacts with higher education, with significant implications for universities across the nation.
