Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential election has set the stage for sweeping changes in U.S. higher education, potentially reshaping college campuses nationwide.
Central to his platform, Trump vowed to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, a move that would shift regulatory power to states and potentially eliminate billions of dollars in scholarship funding for low-income students. A key element of this proposal is to do away with federal oversight and resources for diversity initiatives that many institutions currently rely on to foster inclusive campus environments. Though he would need approval from Congress to completely eliminate the department, Trump will likely seek to reallocate certain responsibilities and reduce funding for the department.
Trump’s “Agenda 47” plan, as outlined during his campaign, targets what he terms “leftist bias” in the accreditation process, which currently often includes inclusion and belonging as a measure of institutional compliance. He has proposed strict financial penalties for private universities with substantial endowments that refuse to align with his policies, suggesting that taxing and fining these institutions could generate significant revenue. Such measures, likely to spark extensive legal disputes, could reshape how institutions fund their operations and comply with federal guidelines.
By eliminating DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) roles, Trump also aims to impose stricter controls on colleges and universities, focusing on traditional “American values.” This could jeopardize funding for DEI programs and lead to extensive layoffs of personnel dedicated to diversity-related work.
Similarly, Trump has vocalized plans to remove what he calls “equity-driven discrimination” from institutions, proposing that universities engaging in race-based admissions face steep financial penalties and even endowment taxes if they fail to comply. Trump has also suggested ending student loan forgiveness programs. As an alternative to traditional education, he also proposed a lower-cost, expedited degree pathway through a new, federally funded online American Academy designed to be free of “woke” or “political” content.
Further, Trump’s approach includes enforcing stricter penalties on campus protests, potentially resulting in disciplinary measures for student demonstrators. As his administration takes shape, these proposed changes may bring substantial challenges to current DEI-focused policies and reshape the cultural landscape of U.S. colleges and universities.
