The Department of Education has rescinded $15 million in federal grants previously allocated for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs at three universities. This move is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to defund DEI initiatives across federal agencies.
Key Facts:
- The affected universities are California State University, Los Angeles; Virginia Commonwealth University; and the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota.
- The grants were initially designated for teacher training but were used to fund DEI-focused courses, workshops, and a social justice center.
- The Biden administration had allocated over $1 billion to DEI programs in schools, with nearly half going toward race-based hiring.
- Workshops funded through these grants included “decolonizing the curriculum” and training on white privilege and systemic racism.
- The cancellations align with Trump’s executive order directing federal agencies to eliminate all DEI-related grants and contracts.
- The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), created by Trump, has already canceled $1 billion in DEI contracts across 25 agencies.
- Some on the Left have welcomed the move, arguing DEI programs have alienated working-class voters.
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The Rest of The Story:
The grant terminations are just one part of Trump’s broader crackdown on DEI across government institutions.
The newly established Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk’s task force, has been conducting a sweeping audit, eliminating contracts that promote diversity initiatives.
This move is in line with Trump’s commitment to rolling back DEI policies, which he argues promote discrimination under the guise of equity.
The affected universities had used the grants to develop programs that focused on race and identity in education.
At Virginia Commonwealth University, workshops instructed educators on how to “become an antiracist educator,” while California State University used funds to establish an Equity and Social Justice Center.
Meanwhile, St. Thomas University implemented assessments asking educators to reflect on white privilege.
Trump has signaled that his DEI crackdown will extend beyond federal agencies, targeting universities with large endowments.
He has encouraged federal agencies to investigate institutions with endowments exceeding $1 billion, suggesting they should not receive taxpayer dollars while engaging in race-based hiring and policies.
Today, the Department of Education terminated three DEI training grants totaling $15M.
One of the institutions had previously hosted faculty workshops entitled “Decolonizing the Curriculum”.
— Department of Government Efficiency (@DOGE) February 8, 2025
Commentary:
This is excellent news.
The Biden administration wasted over a billion dollars on DEI programs that do nothing but divide Americans based on race and push radical ideology under the guise of education.
These so-called “equity” initiatives are discriminatory at best and have no place in federally funded institutions.
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Finally, taxpayer money is being redirected away from these left-wing indoctrination centers.
It is encouraging to see that Trump is not just targeting Ivy League schools but extending this crackdown to universities across the board.
Institutions that prioritize identity politics over merit-based education should not be receiving federal grants.
The elimination of DEI at the federal level is long overdue, and this is a major step in restoring fairness and common sense to education policy.
🚨🇺🇸 DOGE RECAP 2/7: Cutting Billions in Government Waste@DOGE successfully terminated over $4.2 Billion in wasteful spending, including:
– $250 Million in 199 Wasteful Contracts Across 35 Agencies:
– $15 Million to the Department of Education for DEI Training Grant… pic.twitter.com/bNVSTTTpbu— DOGE Tracker (@tracking_DOGE) February 8, 2025
The Bottom Line:
The cancellation of DEI grants at these universities is a clear signal that Trump’s administration is aggressively dismantling diversity-focused programs.
With additional DEI-related contracts already terminated across multiple agencies, this policy shift is expected to impact higher education institutions nationwide.
While some have criticized the decision, others on the Left see it as a necessary course correction for Democrats seeking to regain support from working-class voters.
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