Over the years, few leaders have been as ambitious as former President Donald Trump in their plans to overhaul education in America. He signed a series of executive orders to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. These executive orders are a direct shot at university practices around the country. They do signal a major and potentially decisive shift in educational policy.
On April 23, 2025, The Guardian reported that Trump directed schools to extricate themselves from what an aide referred to as “the whole sort of diversity, equity and inclusion cult.” The former president hasn’t just called for an end to DEI programs. In doing so, he argues these initiatives have damaged the state’s education system.
Here’s what Trump had to say on the matter during the signing of these executive orders. He announced, “We are coming out of that, huh, after being in that jungle for a long time.” His comments expose a deeper strategy to completely upend the education priorities in the United States. He believes in more traditional values and merit-based systems.
The new executive orders signed by the governors will work to limit or regulate universities that practice DEI efforts even further. This increased enforcement comes in the wake of Trump’s years-long fight against these kind of programs, which he claims encourage division over diversity and foster discord. The implications of these orders are extensive. They will have a profound effect on how universities pursue diversity and inclusion in their admissions, hiring practices and curriculum creation.
The Guardian’s article titled “Trump signs orders cracking down on diversity and inclusion at US universities” highlights the potential consequences of these executive actions. It’s time that universities faced this new directive head on. They will be required to rethink their policies and rework their programs in order to come into alignment with evolving federal direction.
The announcement still represents a watershed moment in the larger national battle against DEI activities in higher ed. Advocates for diversity counter that these programs are necessary for creating workplaces and classrooms where everyone feels welcome, and which reflect our nation’s rich, diverse tapestry. In return, critics such as Trump argue that these programs are frequently identity-based rather than merit-based in nature, harming academic rigor.
As these advancements continue to evolve, many educational institutions are left in a reactive state of compliance. At the same time, they are intent on staying true to their diversity and inclusion goals. The outcome of Trump’s executive orders on higher education will take years to reveal. Their damaging effect is already changing the conversation on campuses across the country — for the worse.