Trump to Sign Executive Order Mandating Racial Admissions Data Disclosure from Universities

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump is poised to sign a sweeping executive order forcing universities to report admissions data by race in a new assault on affirmative action. The directive is part of the administration's broader strategy to dismantle race-conscious admissions practices and tighten federal oversight of higher education.

What the Order Involves

According to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt in a statement on social media platform X, the order "mandating universities to disclose admissions data related to race" will require institutions to hand over detailed demographic breakdowns—ostensibly to prove they are not aiding affirmative action initiatives.

While the order's consequences for non-compliant institutions are not yet specified, the administration has already hinted at the possibility of withholding funding from universities that support diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.

Context in Trump's Education Agenda

This move is consistent with the administration's broader efforts this term. In January 2025, Trump signed Executive Order 14151, titled "Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing", which mandated the termination of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility roles across federal agencies.

Earlier this year, Trump also targeted higher education accrediting agencies, instructing his Education Secretary to strip recognition from any that required a demonstrated commitment to diversity in gender, race, or ethnicity —actions that critics argue overstep legal bounds.

Why It Matters

This executive order arrives against the backdrop of legal rulings and investigations reshaping admissions policy nationwide. Notably, in June 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down race-based admissions at Harvard and UNC as unconstitutional, pushing many institutions toward race-neutral alternatives such as socioeconomic targeting.

Moreover, the Education Department under Trump has already initiated civil rights investigations into universities—including Duke—over claims of racial preferences in admissions, hiring, and scholarship decisions.