Colleges brace for sweeping changes tied to Trump's higher education pledge

Now that Donald Trump is days away from retaking the White House, U.S. colleges and universities are said to be bracing for the impact of Trump's vow to end "wokeness" in higher education.

Colleges in red states, in particular, are ditching their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) plans in a move that "both conservative and liberal politicians say" could be a "road map for the rest of the country," according to an ABC News report.

The report continued, "Dozens of diversity, equity and inclusion programs have already closed in states including Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, North Carolina, Iowa, Nebraska and Texas. In some cases, lessons about racial and gender identity have been phased out. Supports and resources for underrepresented students have disappeared. Some students say changes in campus climate have led them to consider dropping out."

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The anti-DEI reaction is the direct result of Trump's campaign vow to end "wokeness" and "leftist indoctrination" in education. "He pledged to dismantle diversity programs that he says amount to discrimination, and to impose fines on colleges 'up to the entire amount of their endowment," according to the report.

The resulting backlash has led some universities to close campus safe areas for LGBTQ+ and Black students, and to cancel minority-focused events like parades and even barbecues.

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (R) even signed into law a bill barring state funding for public colleges that promote “divisive concepts” over race and gender. In addition, the law requires people to use school and college bathrooms that align with their birth gender.

Critics fear the conservative backlash will harm "students that are most marginalized," and that safeguards once put in place to help these students could be weaponized against them.

"The Education Department's Office for Civil Rights typically investigates discrimination against people of color, but under Trump, that office could start investigating diversity programs that conservatives argue are discriminatory," ABC News reported.

Read the full ABC News report here.