White House Pressure Leads Universities to Cut Ties with Nonprofit Aiding Racial Minorities
The Trump administration announced on Thursday that its sustained campaign to dismantle diversity initiatives within higher education has successfully pressured dozens of universities to sever their affiliations with a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting racial minorities in obtaining doctorate degrees. According to officials, 31 institutions have now agreed to cut ties with The PhD Project following a federal investigation.
Investigation Targets Alleged Discrimination
The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights initiated an inquiry into The PhD Project in March 2025, after conservative strategists brought attention to the group. The administration contends that many diversity programs unfairly exclude white and Asian American students. The investigation has concluded with 31 universities agreeing to terminate their partnerships, while negotiations are actively ongoing with an additional 14 schools.
The department stated unequivocally that The PhD Project "unlawfully limits eligibility based on the race of participants." This, they argue, constitutes a violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in any education program receiving federal financial assistance.
Administration Hails "Trump Effect" on Campus Equality
Education Secretary Linda McMahon framed the outcomes as a significant victory. "This is the Trump effect in action: institutions of higher education are agreeing to cut ties with discriminatory organizations, recommitting themselves to abiding by federal law, and restoring equality of opportunity on campuses across the nation," McMahon declared in an official statement.
The investigation prompted many schools to act swiftly to avoid potential conflicts with the administration, which had previously warned that institutions could face the loss of federal funding over practices involving "race-based preferences."
University Responses and Program Impact
The list of 31 compliant universities includes major public research powerhouses such as Arizona State University, Ohio State University, and the University of Michigan, alongside elite private institutions like Yale University, Duke University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
MIT spokesperson Kimberly Allen explained that the university had paid The PhD Project "a nominal fee" to participate in recruitment fairs and conferences. MIT ended its participation in April 2025 and later signed a "resolution agreement" with the Department of Education, though Allen emphasized the school "explicitly did not admit any liability, wrongdoing or violation of any law or regulation."
Similarly, the University of North Dakota terminated its membership just two weeks after the investigation was announced last year. Spokesperson David Dodds noted the university joined primarily to access the nonprofit's member directory and applicant database for faculty recruitment purposes.
The University of Utah, which had participated in the nonprofit's annual conferences for three years, including the 2024-25 academic year, cut ties in October after reaching a settlement with the department. University spokesperson Rebecca Walsh revealed that out of 170 PhD students admitted to Utah's business school over the past 14 years, only two were involved through The PhD Project.
Broader Implications and Organizational Defense
As part of their agreements, all 31 universities have also committed to reviewing their partnerships with other organizations to identify any that might similarly violate Title VI by imposing race-based participation restrictions.
The PhD Project, founded to increase diversity among business school faculty by providing more role models, defended its mission. "The PhD Project was founded with the goal of providing more role models in the front of business classrooms and this remains our goal today," the organization stated. Its website reports having helped more than 1,500 members earn doctoral degrees.
This action against The PhD Project represents a focal point in the Trump administration's broader offensive against a wide array of practices it categorizes under diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, signaling a continued push to reshape campus policies nationwide.
