Trump signs executive orders to address equity efforts in colleges and schools

President Donald Trump is making moves to tighten the reins on colleges and their overseers, as part of his push to curb what he perceives as “wokeness” and diversity programs in education. In a set of executive orders signed on Wednesday, Trump honed in on universities seen as liberal adversaries to his political goals. One order demands colleges adhere more strictly to a federal law necessitating disclosure of financial relationships with foreign entities, while a second calls for reevaluating the accrediting bodies deciding which colleges can receive federal aid.

Colleges’ financial connections to foreign entities, particularly countries like China with strained relations with the United States, have been a priority for Republicans, particularly during Trump’s presidency. The Trump administration justified taking action by pointing to colleges, including Harvard, butting heads with the law requiring disclosure of foreign gifts and contracts valued at over $250,000.

The executive order charges the Education Department and attorney general with stepping up enforcement to punish colleges flouting the disclosure law, which may involve cutting federal funds. Trump’s administration intends to increase transparency around foreign donations to American colleges and prevent potential foreign exploitation, per the order.

Republicans lauded the order, with Rep. Tim Walberg of Michigan calling out China for taking advantage of academic ties to pilfer research and “indoctrinate students.” Meanwhile, an order aimed at accrediting bodies sets a path for reforming how colleges secure federal financial aid, a long-standing Trump commitment due to a belief that the industry is overrun by what he calls “Marxist Maniacs and lunatics.”

Accreditors, often overlooked as agents of college oversight, play a crucial role in shaping various college facets, from governance to curriculum. The executive order lays the groundwork for a possible extensive overhaul of the accrediting industry, Trump’s primary aim being to remove any diversity, equity, and inclusion standards accreditors impose on colleges. Some standards have already been dropped or loosened amid Trump’s crackdown on diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The order compels the government to halt or revoke the accreditation of entities that discriminate in the name of diversity, equity, and inclusion, demanding these accreditors prioritize student outcomes over these metrics. Trump aims to simplify the process for new accreditors to enter the field, reducing the years-long recognition process to a more efficient and transparent path.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon noted the need to shift the focus away from ideologies surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion towards improving graduation rates and student performance in the labor market. This executive order might spark a substantial transition in how colleges are held accountable in the U.S. education system, aligning accrediting bodies more closely with Trump’s vision of a streamlined, results-driven approach.