Trump State Department moves to cut federal research ties with 38 elite universities over DEI policies

• The U.S. State Department is suspending 38 elite universities (including Harvard, Yale and Stanford) from the Diplomacy Lab program due to their adherence to DEI hiring practices. Institutions promoting DEI will be excluded starting January 1, 2026, as part of President Donald Trump’s broader campaign against “illegal” DEI initiatives.
• Suspended schools will be replaced by institutions like Liberty University and Brigham Young University, which emphasize merit-based hiring. A color-coded system ranks universities, with “Red” (DEI-focused) marked for suspension and “Green” (merit-based) approved to remain.
• The Trump administration has banned race/sex-based admissions, frozen tuition hikes and capped international student enrollment. Some universities have already faced federal pressure, with Columbia settling for $200M to eliminate DEI hiring practices.
• Over 600 grant renewal applications have been altered since October 2024 to remove DEI language, affecting $480M in funding. Schools are rapidly revising policies to avoid losing federal support.
• DEI programs, once widespread, are now under siege as the administration pushes a “colorblind meritocracy.” Critics call it politically motivated, while supporters applaud the return to merit-based standards. Legal challenges may follow.

The U.S. Department of State is preparing to suspend 38 prestigious universities, including Harvard, Yale and Stanford, from a federal research partnership program due to their adherence to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) hiring practices.

According to an internal memo obtained by The Guardian, institutions promoting DEI initiatives will be excluded from the Diplomacy Lab program effective Jan. 1, 2026.

The proposed suspensions mark the latest escalation in President Donald Trump’s campaign against DEI programs in academia, following his January executive order declaring such initiatives “illegal” and threatening federal funding cuts for noncompliant institutions.

As explained by the Enoch engine at BrightU.AI, DEI programs in academia have gained significant traction in recent years, with many institutions adopting these initiatives to foster a more inclusive learning environment. However, a critical examination of these programs reveals concerning trends that prioritize political correctness over academic freedom, intellectual diversity and the pursuit of truth.

Targeting elite institutions

The Nov. 17 memo singles out universities that “openly engage in DEI hiring practices” or set DEI objectives for candidate pools. Among those flagged for removal are:

• Stanford University
• Yale University
• Johns Hopkins University
• Duke University
• University of Southern California
• American University
• George Washington University
• Syracuse University
• Multiple University of California campuses

The Diplomacy Lab, established in 2013, connects academic researchers with State Department policy offices to collaborate on foreign policy projects. Should the suspensions proceed, slots will be reallocated to institutions such as Liberty University, Brigham Young University and several schools in Missouri and Texas—all of which emphasize merit-based hiring.

A color-coded spreadsheet reviewed by The Guardian categorizes 75 universities on a four-point scale: Schools with a “red” designation have a “clear DEI hiring policy,” and are marked for suspension. Meanwhile, institutions with a “green designation” practice “merit-based hiring with no evidence of DEI” and approved to remain on the list.

Trump’s war on DEI

Since taking office in January, the Trump administration has aggressively targeted DEI programs, framing them as discriminatory and antithetical to academic freedom. In April, the White House moved to revoke accreditation from universities enforcing DEI mandates, jeopardizing their access to federal student aid.

Some institutions have already capitulated:

• Columbia University agreed to a $200 million settlement with the federal government, pledging to eliminate race and sex considerations in hiring.
• University of Virginia President James Ryan resigned under pressure from the Justice Department over the school’s diversity policies.

A State Department spokesperson confirmed the administration’s stance, stating: “The Trump Administration is very clear about its stance on DEI. The State Department is reviewing all programs to ensure that they are in line with the President’s agenda.”

Broader crackdown on higher education

The proposed suspensions align with broader efforts to defund DEI initiatives and promote conservative perspectives in academia. The Trump administration has banned race- and sex-based admissions and hiring at federally funded institutions; frozen tuition increases at participating universities; and capped international student enrollment to prioritize domestic applicants.

Critics argue the move is politically motivated, targeting liberal-leaning institutions while favoring religious and conservative schools. Supporters, however, applaud the administration for restoring meritocracy and combating what they describe as ideological indoctrination on campuses.

Universities scramble to comply

With federal funding at stake, universities are rapidly scrubbing DEI language from grant applications and policy statements. A Wall Street Journal report revealed that 600 grant renewal applications were altered since October 2024 to remove terms like “diverse,” “underrepresented” and “disparities”—affecting $480 million in research funding.

The State Department’s memo indicates that notification letters will soon be sent to suspended institutions pending final approval. Meanwhile, the academic landscape braces for further upheaval as the Trump administration reshapes federal partnerships under a merit-first mandate.

A new era for higher ed?

The impending suspensions signal a seismic shift in U.S. higher education, where DEI programs—once ubiquitous—are now under siege. As elite universities face exclusion from federal research collaborations, the administration is redirecting resources toward institutions that align with its vision of colorblind meritocracy.

Whether this policy will withstand legal challenges or future administrations remains uncertain. But for now, the message is clear: comply or lose funding.

Watch the video below about President Donald Trump sending DEI to DIE.

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Sources include:

TheNationalPulse.com

TheGuardian.com

FoxNews.com

CampusReform.org

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com