September 12, 2025 • 4 mins
The top story from the Department of Education this week is a sweeping move to end discretionary grant funding for Minority-Serving Institutions. In a bold statement, Secretary of Education Linda McMahon declared that “discrimination based upon race or ethnicity has no place in the United States." This decision, announced just days ago, follows the recent legal determination that grant programs requiring specific racial or ethnic enrollment percentages—like the Hispanic-Serving Institutions initiative—are unconstitutional.
What’s changing? The department will no longer award new grants or continue existing discretionary payments to a range of programs supporting Hispanic, Black, Asian American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and Native American-serving institutions. However, the department clarified it will release about $132 million in mandatory funds that Congress requires by law, but all other discretionary funding is being reprogrammed to priorities that do not use racial or ethnic criteria. Historically Black colleges and tribal colleges are unaffected by this action. Grant recipients have already been notified that existing awards will not continue, and new applications for fiscal year 2025 will not be funded.
Secretary McMahon emphasized that “diversity is not merely the presence of a skin color,” stating the department will work with Congress to design new supports for schools serving under-resourced students—without using racial quotas. The administration’s position is that every student should be judged by their merits and capacities as individuals.
The fallout is significant. For students and families, especially those attending institutions now losing federal support, this sudden pivot may limit access to resources and support programs designed to close achievement gaps—at least in the short term. Many school leaders and advocates are raising concerns over how these changes could widen disparities. Meanwhile, some states are aligning preemptively with the administration’s push, which could further solidify shifts away from equity and diversity initiatives, even though many of these moves are entangled in ongoing legal battles.
The context for these actions is a broader set of Trump administration efforts to roll back diversity, equity, and inclusion—known as DEI—protections in both K-12 and higher education. In February, the Department issued guidance that characterized race-conscious programs as illegal. However, this was quickly challenged in federal court, and by August, a judge vacated that guidance as unlawful. Still, at least 21 states indicated they would comply with new federal standards, while nineteen states are in active litigation to push back.
It’s a turbulent time for higher education leaders, too. According to Inside Higher Ed, many advocates argue the Department lacks the authority to withhold these funds, warning of confusion and instability for colleges that depend on that support. The legal status remains uncertain and is being closely monitored by organizations like the Brookings Institution.
Looking ahead, the Department says it plans to work with Congress to reshape support for institutions serving students with the greatest challenges—without the use of race-based eligibility—and notes that ongoing legal review of even the mandatory funds continues. The next few months will be critical, with lawsuits from states, advocacy groups, and higher ed organizations scheduled for hearings.
Listeners who wish to keep updated should check the Department of Education’s website, follow organizations tracking the litigation, and, if you’re part of an affected institution, reach out to your campus leadership for town halls and forums on the latest developments. The Department has invited public input as it considers how to support under-resourced students in new ways; stay tuned for proposed regulations and public comment opportunities in the coming weeks.
Thanks for tuning in. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss our next deep dive into the policies shaping education in America. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
For more http://www.quietplease.ai
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This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
What’s changing? The department will no longer award new grants or continue existing discretionary payments to a range of programs supporting Hispanic, Black, Asian American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and Native American-serving institutions. However, the department clarified it will release about $132 million in mandatory funds that Congress requires by law, but all other discretionary funding is being reprogrammed to priorities that do not use racial or ethnic criteria. Historically Black colleges and tribal colleges are unaffected by this action. Grant recipients have already been notified that existing awards will not continue, and new applications for fiscal year 2025 will not be funded.
Secretary McMahon emphasized that “diversity is not merely the presence of a skin color,” stating the department will work with Congress to design new supports for schools serving under-resourced students—without using racial quotas. The administration’s position is that every student should be judged by their merits and capacities as individuals.
The fallout is significant. For students and families, especially those attending institutions now losing federal support, this sudden pivot may limit access to resources and support programs designed to close achievement gaps—at least in the short term. Many school leaders and advocates are raising concerns over how these changes could widen disparities. Meanwhile, some states are aligning preemptively with the administration’s push, which could further solidify shifts away from equity and diversity initiatives, even though many of these moves are entangled in ongoing legal battles.
The context for these actions is a broader set of Trump administration efforts to roll back diversity, equity, and inclusion—known as DEI—protections in both K-12 and higher education. In February, the Department issued guidance that characterized race-conscious programs as illegal. However, this was quickly challenged in federal court, and by August, a judge vacated that guidance as unlawful. Still, at least 21 states indicated they would comply with new federal standards, while nineteen states are in active litigation to push back.
It’s a turbulent time for higher education leaders, too. According to Inside Higher Ed, many advocates argue the Department lacks the authority to withhold these funds, warning of confusion and instability for colleges that depend on that support. The legal status remains uncertain and is being closely monitored by organizations like the Brookings Institution.
Looking ahead, the Department says it plans to work with Congress to reshape support for institutions serving students with the greatest challenges—without the use of race-based eligibility—and notes that ongoing legal review of even the mandatory funds continues. The next few months will be critical, with lawsuits from states, advocacy groups, and higher ed organizations scheduled for hearings.
Listeners who wish to keep updated should check the Department of Education’s website, follow organizations tracking the litigation, and, if you’re part of an affected institution, reach out to your campus leadership for town halls and forums on the latest developments. The Department has invited public input as it considers how to support under-resourced students in new ways; stay tuned for proposed regulations and public comment opportunities in the coming weeks.
Thanks for tuning in. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss our next deep dive into the policies shaping education in America. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
For more http://www.quietplease.ai
Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
The top story from the Department of Education this week
is a sweeping move to end discretionary grant funding for
minority serving institutions. In a bold statement, Secretary of Education
Linda McMahon declared that discrimination based upon race or ethnicity
has no place in the United States. This decision, announced
(00:21):
just days ago, follows the recent legal determination that grant
programs requiring specific racial or ethnic enrollment percentages, like the
Histanic Serving Institutions initiative, are unconstitutional. What's changing the Department
will no longer award new grants or continue existing discretionary
payments to a range of programs supporting Hispanic, Black, Asian, American, Alaskan, Native,
(00:46):
Native Hawaiian, and Native American serving institutions. However, the Department
clarified it will release about one hundred and thirty two
million dollars in mandatory funds that Congress requires by law,
but all other discrestionionary funding is being reprogrammed to priorities
that do not use racial or ethnic criteria. Historically, black
(01:24):
colleges and tribal colleges are unaffected by this action. Grant
recipients have already been notified that existing awards will not continue,
and new applications for fiscal year twenty twenty five will
not be funded. Secretary McMahon emphasized that diversity is not
merely the presence of a skin color, stating the Department
(01:44):
will work with Congress to design new supports for schools
serving under resourch students without using racial quotas. The administration's
position is that every student should be judged by their
merits and capacities as individuals. The fallout is significant for
students and families, especially those attending institutions now losing federal support.
(02:05):
This sudden pivot may limit access to resources and support
programs designed to close achievement gaps, at least in the
short term. Many school leaders and advocates are raising concerns
over how these changes could widen disparities. Meanwhile, some states
are aligning preemptively with the administration's push, which could further
solidify shifts away from equity and diversity initiatives, even though
(02:28):
many of these moves are entangled in ongoing legal battles.
The context for these actions is a broader set of
Trump administration efforts to roll back diversity, equity and inclusion,
known as DEI protections in both K twelve and higher education.
(03:03):
In February, the Department issued guidance that characterized race conscious
programs as illegal. However, this was quickly challenged in federal court,
and by August, a judge vacated that guidance as unlawful. Still,
at least twenty one states indicated they would comply with
new federal standards, while nineteen states are in active litigation
(03:25):
to push back. It's a turbulent time for higher education
leaders too. According to Inside Higher Ed, many advocates argue
the Department lacks the authority to withhold these funds, warning
of confusion and instability for colleges that depend on that support.
The legal status remains uncertain and is being closely monitored
by organizations like the Brookings Institution. Looking ahead, the Department
(03:50):
says it plans to work with Congress to reshape support
for institutions serving students with the greatest challenges without the
use of race based eligibility, and notes that ongoing legal
review of even the mandatory funds continues. The next few
months will be critical, with lawsuits from states, advocacy groups,
and higher ed organizations scheduled for hearings Listeners who wish
(04:13):
to keep updated should check the Department of Education's website,
follow organizations tracking the litigation, and if you're part of
an affected institution, reach out to your campus leadership for
town halls and forms on the latest developments. The Department
has invited public input as it considers how to support
under resource students in new ways. Stay tuned for proposed
(04:34):
regulations and public comment opportunities in the coming weeks. Thanks
for tuning in. Be sure to subscribe so you don't
misse our next deep dive into the policy shaping education
in America. This has been a quiet, pleased production. For more,
check out quiplease dot ai
The top story from the Department of Education this week
is a sweeping move to end discretionary grant funding for
minority serving institutions. In a bold statement, Secretary of Education
Linda McMahon declared that discrimination based upon race or ethnicity
has no place in the United States. This decision, announced
(00:21):
just days ago, follows the recent legal determination that grant
programs requiring specific racial or ethnic enrollment percentages, like the
Histanic Serving Institutions initiative, are unconstitutional. What's changing the Department
will no longer award new grants or continue existing discretionary
payments to a range of programs supporting Hispanic, Black, Asian, American, Alaskan, Native,
(00:46):
Native Hawaiian, and Native American serving institutions. However, the Department
clarified it will release about one hundred and thirty two
million dollars in mandatory funds that Congress requires by law,
but all other discrestionionary funding is being reprogrammed to priorities
that do not use racial or ethnic criteria. Historically, black
(01:24):
colleges and tribal colleges are unaffected by this action. Grant
recipients have already been notified that existing awards will not continue,
and new applications for fiscal year twenty twenty five will
not be funded. Secretary McMahon emphasized that diversity is not
merely the presence of a skin color, stating the Department
(01:44):
will work with Congress to design new supports for schools
serving under resourch students without using racial quotas. The administration's
position is that every student should be judged by their
merits and capacities as individuals. The fallout is significant for
students and families, especially those attending institutions now losing federal support.
(02:05):
This sudden pivot may limit access to resources and support
programs designed to close achievement gaps, at least in the
short term. Many school leaders and advocates are raising concerns
over how these changes could widen disparities. Meanwhile, some states
are aligning preemptively with the administration's push, which could further
solidify shifts away from equity and diversity initiatives, even though
(02:28):
many of these moves are entangled in ongoing legal battles.
The context for these actions is a broader set of
Trump administration efforts to roll back diversity, equity and inclusion,
known as DEI protections in both K twelve and higher education.
(03:03):
In February, the Department issued guidance that characterized race conscious
programs as illegal. However, this was quickly challenged in federal court,
and by August, a judge vacated that guidance as unlawful. Still,
at least twenty one states indicated they would comply with
new federal standards, while nineteen states are in active litigation
(03:25):
to push back. It's a turbulent time for higher education
leaders too. According to Inside Higher Ed, many advocates argue
the Department lacks the authority to withhold these funds, warning
of confusion and instability for colleges that depend on that support.
The legal status remains uncertain and is being closely monitored
by organizations like the Brookings Institution. Looking ahead, the Department
(03:50):
says it plans to work with Congress to reshape support
for institutions serving students with the greatest challenges without the
use of race based eligibility, and notes that ongoing legal
review of even the mandatory funds continues. The next few
months will be critical, with lawsuits from states, advocacy groups,
and higher ed organizations scheduled for hearings Listeners who wish
(04:13):
to keep updated should check the Department of Education's website,
follow organizations tracking the litigation, and if you're part of
an affected institution, reach out to your campus leadership for
town halls and forms on the latest developments. The Department
has invited public input as it considers how to support
under resource students in new ways. Stay tuned for proposed
(04:34):
regulations and public comment opportunities in the coming weeks. Thanks
for tuning in. Be sure to subscribe so you don't
misse our next deep dive into the policy shaping education
in America. This has been a quiet, pleased production. For more,
check out quiplease dot ai
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