Trump orders US universities to disclose race-related admissions data

President Donald Trump on Thursday directed all US universities to provide detailed enrollment records to prove they are not using race as a factor in admissions, escalating his administration’s battle against higher education institutions.

The move follows the US Supreme Court’s 2023 decision that outlawed race-based affirmative action in college admissions, while still allowing universities to consider applicants’ personal accounts of racial experiences in their essays or statements.

In a memorandum announcing the policy, Trump criticized universities for allegedly sidestepping the ruling. "The persistent lack of available data, paired with the rampant use of 'diversity statements' and other overt and hidden racial proxies, continues to raise concerns about whether race is actually used in practice," he wrote.

Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has made universities a prime target, accusing them of fostering liberal ideology, antisemitism, and what he calls “wokery.” His administration has also rolled back diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in federal agencies, claiming they discriminate against white Americans.

"Greater transparency is essential to exposing unlawful practices and ultimately ridding society of shameful, dangerous racial hierarchies," Trump added.

Under the new directive, universities will be required to submit more comprehensive admissions data to the National Center for Education Statistics. The exact scope of the reporting rules will be determined later, but Trump said the aim is to “provide adequate transparency into admissions.”

The order is part of a broader campaign in which the administration has used federal funding as leverage, pressuring universities to change their admissions processes, curricula, and other policies. Since January, the administration has slashed or frozen research budgets, with elite institutions being singled out for what Trump describes as ideological bias.

Columbia University became the first major target after Trump accused it of failing to address alleged anti-Semitism during pro-Palestinian campus demonstrations. The school lost hundreds of millions in federal funding, was barred from applying for new research grants, and saw dozens of researchers laid off as funding was suspended.

Last month, Columbia agreed to pay the federal government USD 200 million and an additional USD 21 million to settle an antisemitism probe. As part of the settlement, the university, along with Brown University, agreed to share admissions data, including racial demographics and test scores, to demonstrate compliance with anti-discrimination laws.