More Than 30 Schools Cut Ties With Race-Based PhD Program After Trump Admin Cracks Down
At least 31 universities are severing their partnership with an organization that the Trump administration has accused of illegal racial discrimination in doctoral studies. programs.
The Department for Education (ED) opened investigations into 45 universities in March 2025 as part of their partnership with ‘The Ph.D.’. Project,” which ED says limits eligibility based on race. Today, Yale, New York University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the University of Michigan, and more than 25 other schools signed the Department’s resolution agreeing to sever ties with the program. The investigation into the remaining 14 universities will continue, said a press release issued Thursday.
“This is the Trump effect in action: Institutions of higher education agreeing to cut ties with discriminatory organizations, recommitting to federal law, and restoring equality of opportunity to campuses across the country,” Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a statement. “We hope that other institutions with similarly discriminatory practices will follow suit, paving the way for a future in which we reject judgment of individuals based on the color of their skin and once again embrace the principles of merit, excellence and opportunity.” »
Spelman graduates arrive at the Spelman College 2025 graduation ceremony at the Georgia International Convention Center on May 18, 2025 in College Park, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)
McMahon previously said the intention of the surveys was to ensure students were “evaluated based on their merit and achievements, without bias based on the color of their skin.”
In February 2025, ED sent a letter to universities reminding them that they are bound by the Civil Rights Act and cannot discriminate based on race, color, or national origin, thereby threatening federal funding for those considered to continue their discriminatory practices. A court later blocked the department from enforcing the letter after a lawsuit challenged it for being “legally flawed.” (RELATED: Trump admin agrees not to use federal funds to ‘coerce’ California universities into compliance)
Even though ED’s initial investigations were launched citing the letter before it was invalidated, the department was able to continue investigations based on the Civil Rights Act which prohibits racial discrimination.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent, nonpartisan news service, is available free to any legitimate news publisher capable of delivering a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and DCNF affiliation. For questions about our guidelines or our partnership, please contact licenses@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.
