The Trump administration is giving America’s schools and universities two weeks to eliminate diversity initiatives or risk losing federal money, raising the stakes in the president’s fight against “wokeness” and sowing confusion as schools scramble to comply.

In a memo Friday, the Education Department gave an ultimatum to stop using “racial preferences” as a factor in admissions, financial aid, hiring or other areas. Schools are being given 14 days to end any practice that treats students or workers differently because of their race.

The sweeping demand could upend education in myriad ways. The memo targets college admissions offices, ordering an end to personal essays or writing prompts that can be used to predict an applicant’s race. It forbids dorms or graduation events for students of certain races. Efforts to recruit teachers from underrepresented groups could be seen as discrimination.

It’s meant to correct what the memo described as rampant discrimination in education, often against white and Asian students.

  • cannibalkitteh@lemmy.blahaj.zone
    12·
    2 days ago

    The Department of Education is under the executive branch and holds control over policy and guidance. As a permanent change, it takes about 90 days to go through the official “We want to change eligibility policy” process, but until then, a presidential memo can serve as a directive to the department.

      • ShepherdPie@midwest.social
        5·
        2 days ago

        Yeah haven’t Republicans used this exact argument to defang departments like the FCC and EPA, stating that they don’t have the authority to enforce any rules and can only make recommendations?

        • snooggums@lemmy.worldEnglish
          6·
          2 days ago

          Yes, Republicans love to be hypocritical about how the government works. Can’t consider Obama’s SC nomination because it is too close to the election, but rush through their own even closer to the election. Agencies have no power unless they are what the Republicans want. Censorship is wrong, except for theirs. States choice is the most important thing, except for the things they want to force on the states. Diversity, equity, and inclusion that exists only to make people welcome to participate is somehow racist, unfair, and exclusionary.

          It is Bizzaro world logic.