The Trump administration has launched a sweeping education reform effort, targeting colleges and K-12 schools with new executive orders aimed at increasing transparency in foreign funding, eliminating diversity and equity initiatives, and promoting workforce readiness. The orders, signed by President Donald Trump, reflect a broader effort to overhaul American education and shift priorities away from what the administration views as “liberal influence” and “excessive emphasis on diversity and equity.”
One key measure in the executive orders requires colleges to report large financial gifts from foreign sources, amid renewed tensions between the White House and Harvard University over its handling of pro-Palestinian protests and diversity policies. The Department of Education has accused Harvard of providing “incomplete and inaccurate” reports on foreign funding over the last decade. The Trump administration argues that increased transparency is critical to curbing foreign influence and ensuring national security.
The executive orders also target diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) standards in college accreditation, with Trump accusing accrediting bodies of enforcing “divisive” DEI policies. The administration plans to simplify the process for new accreditors to gain federal recognition and will focus on student outcomes and performance in the job market. Accreditors that support DEI-based policies could face suspension or termination.
Another executive order targets school discipline policies influenced by equity initiatives, pushing for a return to discipline standards based solely on student behavior. The order bars federal agencies from relying on “disparate impact” standards, a legal theory used to challenge policies that disproportionately affect minority groups regardless of intent.
The orders also introduce a new federal task force focused on introducing artificial intelligence training in classrooms starting as early as kindergarten. Additionally, the administration plans to support Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) through increased private-sector partnerships and enhanced workforce training opportunities in sectors like finance and tech.
The executive orders have sparked controversy, with many educators and advocates expressing concerns about the impact on diversity and inclusion efforts in education. The administration’s emphasis on workforce readiness and traditional discipline standards has also raised questions about the future of education policy in the United States.
As the Trump administration continues to push its education reform agenda, it remains to be seen how these executive orders will be implemented and what impact they will have on colleges and schools across the country. One thing is certain, however: the education landscape is about to undergo significant changes.
