Many higher education institutions have had swift responses to the mandates from the second Trump Administration about eliminating DEI programs. Higher education entities have tried to respond by rebranding their offices. In theory, these “rebrands” would preserve funding by keeping an institution's ability to receive federal funds. While these efforts are difficult to confirm, often by tracking legislation, they send confusing signals.
However, experts warn against hastily rushing to comply with the administration’s mandates in order to preserve funding pathways. Dr. Mike Hoa Nguyen, an associate professor at UCLA School of Education and Information Studies, said, “It is important to note that the current funding landscape [...] likely violates both Congressional intent and existing statute.”
“Congress explicitly appropriated MSI funding under Title III and V, Parts A and F,” he continued. “For the Administration to unilaterally deem these appropriations unconstitutional, either by withholding the funds entirely (as with Part F) or consolidating them into a single pot under SIP (as with Part A), suggests that it is actually the US Department of Education, not the institutions, that is out of compliance.”
Many leaders are reluctant to talk about decisions around name changes and DEI office rebrands, often citing concerns about the “risky” nature of delving into their rationale. At press time, 6 out of 9 chief diversity officers The EDU Ledger reached out to for comment declined.
Nguyen said administrators are trying to navigate a complex legal and funding environment. “Current grants are being abruptly terminated, and forcing these institutions to compete for a single pool of SIP funding undermines the foundational purpose of minority serving institutions (MSIs): to serve racially minoritized students," he said. "Ultimately, eliminating these targeted supports, and thus racial equity, appears to be the primary goal of this Administration’s education policies.”
Many institutions sued the Trump Administration to try to hold back policies that disrupt funding. Nguyen noted that while MSIs are currently facing a targeted crisis as federal funding programs are unilaterally terminated, they are not alone. “It is important to remember that MSIs represent a significant portion of our higher education system, and the pressures they feel often signal what is coming for the rest of the sector.”
“The dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education and broad federal cuts mean all colleges have significantly fewer resources to educate their students,” he said.
