Trump Administration Ends Race-Based Hiring and Targets University DEI

The United States Department of Justice ended a 44-year-old race-based hiring decree on August 4, 2025, terminating mandates from the 1981 Luevano v. Ezell case. The department characterized the decree as being based on flawed and outdated theories of diversity, equity, and inclusion that hindered the government's ability to hire top talent.

This action is part of a broader campaign by President Donald Trump to eliminate DEI frameworks across the federal government and higher education. The administration has utilized a pressure campaign against universities, including freezing federal funding and revoking student visas, to force compliance. Columbia University paid a $200 million fine to settle a civil rights claim, while Brown University and the University of Pennsylvania agreed to limit transgender women in sports. Brown University also agreed to dismantle its DEI programs, leading to the restoration of its federal funding.

To enforce these shifts, Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a memorandum detailing practices that the government considers unlawful discrimination. The Department of Justice now prohibits federal fund recipients from using scholarship criteria like underserved geographic areas or first-generation status if they are used to increase participation by specific racial or sex-based groups. The administration intends to use the False Claims Act to penalize contractors and grant recipients that violate these guidelines, with potential penalties including treble damages and debarment.