Trump admin targets Vanderbilt diversity efforts
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Vanderbilt University is one of the latest targets of the Trump administration's crackdown on diversity.
- The Department of Education said Vanderbilt is among 45 colleges facing a civil rights investigation over allegations that they participated in "race-exclusionary practices."
Why it matters: It's the latest attempt by the Trump administration to sideline diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, which have faced mounting scrutiny since Trump came into office.
The big picture: Framing schools' DEI programs as "race-exclusionary" reinterprets their intent, shifting the focus from discrimination against people of color to "anti-white racism," Axios' Alex Thompson has reported.
Driving the news: The department said in a statement that the schools were under investigation for potential Title VI violations of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which mandates that federally funded schools provide a discrimination-free environment based on race, color, or national origin.
- The schools allegedly violated the law by partnering with the organization The Ph.D. Project, which "purports to provide doctoral students with insights into obtaining a Ph.D. and networking opportunities, but limits eligibility based on the race of participants."
Zoom out: News of the Vanderbilt investigation comes after the Education Department warned 60 colleges, including the University of Tennessee, that their federal funds could be cut if they don't address allegations of antisemitic harassment on campus.
Go deeper: Trump's DEI order has raised fears of an anti-diversity "witch hunt."