The incoming Trump administration’s plans for higher education are causing widespread concern among advocates, who anticipate a major overhaul targeting what the administration terms “woke” policies and programs, Al Jazeera reports.
President-elect Donald Trump’s repeated calls to dismantle the Department of Education, coupled with Vice President-elect JD Vance’s characterization of universities as “the enemy,” paint a picture of potential conflict.
While completely abolishing the Department of Education is unlikely without Congressional support, the administration is expected to exert significant influence through other means. The appointment of Linda McMahon, a former wrestling executive with no education experience, as Secretary of Education further fuels anxieties.
Trump has explicitly threatened to revoke accreditation and federal funding from institutions promoting “critical race theory, transgender insanity, and other inappropriate racial, sexual or political content.” He has also pledged to rid schools of “political meddling,” even as conservative groups plan to utilize his second term to push for sweeping higher education reform.
A primary target is Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Conservative critics label these policies as “wokeism,” arguing they promote division and discriminate against white Americans. Proposals under consideration include dismantling diversity and equity offices across the federal government, removing chief diversity officers, and repealing diversity reporting requirements. Furthermore, the administration aims to eliminate the use of terms like “privilege” and “oppression” in official policies and materials.
The incoming administration’s actions are expected to mirror those already implemented in several Republican-led states. Texas, for example, forced universities to close diversity offices and banned terms like “race,” “gender,” “class,” and “equity” from course descriptions. Florida, under Governor Ron DeSantis, similarly blocked funding for DEI programs, although these measures have faced legal challenges.
These state-level actions, dubbed “educational gag orders,” have been replicated in 46 states, effectively curtailing discussions on racism and sexism in classrooms. This serves as a potential template for the Trump administration’s approach, raising serious concerns about academic freedom and institutional autonomy. The potential impact extends from student admissions and faculty hiring to the content of curricula and research.
While some education advocates hope other pressing issues, such as the administration’s planned mass deportation initiative, might take precedence, others fear the administration’s potential to successfully execute its ambitious – and many believe, destructive – plans for higher education.
