After Columbia, Trump administration targets NYU—for civil rights violations

The US department of education has initiated investigations into 52 universities, including the New York University (NYU), as part of the Donald Trump administration's crackdown on DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) initiatives in higher education.

The investigations focus on the universities' collaborations with The PhD Project, a non-profit organisation dedicated to increasing diversity among business school faculties by supporting Black, Hispanic and Native American doctoral students. The department alleges that such partnerships may unlawfully limit eligibility based on race.

According to the Washington Square News, NYU is among the 45 universities being investigated for potential violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

In a recent press release, secretary of education Linda McMahon said the department of education is intensifying efforts to eliminate "illegal discrimination" in higher education institutions.

This initiative is part of a broader campaign by the Trump administration to scrutinise DEI programmes, asserting that some may violate the Civil Rights Act by excluding certain groups, the New York Post reported.

The department's office for civil rights is also examining six universities for allegedly offering race-based scholarships and one institution for purportedly segregating students by race.

These measures follow a 14 February memo warning educational institutions that using race as a factor in admissions, scholarships or any aspect of student life could result in the loss of federal funding.

The investigations have sparked legal challenges from major teachers' unions, which argue that the administration's directives are overly vague and infringe upon educators' free speech rights. The outcomes of these investigations could significantly impact DEI programmes and policies across the nation's higher education landscape.

Recent actions by the Trump administration have significantly impacted major US universities, notably Columbia University and Johns Hopkins University, primarily due to concerns over campus protests and institutional policies.

Columbia University

The administration revoked approximately US$ 400 million in federal funding to Columbia University, citing the institution's alleged failure to protect Jewish students from anti-Semitic harassment during pro-Palestinian protests.

Johns Hopkins University

Similarly, Johns Hopkins University faced an US$ 800 million reduction in federal grants, with a particularly large proportion being from the now-shut down USAID (the US Agency for International Development). This substantial funding cut has led the medical university to plan layoffs affecting over 2,200 staff members and to scale back numerous health projects, both domestic and international.

Investigations into the University of California system

The administration's task force on anti-Semitism has also initiated investigations into the University of California system. While specific details are pending, these inquiries are part of a broader effort to scrutinise university policies and campus activities related to antisemitism and free speech.

However, critics argue that these measures could suppress academic freedom and deter the teaching of critical topics related to systemic racism and diversity. They express concern that the vague guidelines may lead educators to avoid certain subjects for fear of repercussions, potentially widening educational inequalities.