President Donald Trump has signed two new executive orders aimed at changing practices in U.S. higher education. These orders focus on making foreign donations more transparent and promoting merit-based admissions over diversity-based criteria. Harvard University has come under special scrutiny for its practices.
New Rules for Foreign Donations
The first executive order requires universities to disclose foreign donations in greater detail. The Trump administration suspects that universities like Harvard have not fully followed the rules regarding financial transparency. The new rules are meant to prevent hidden foreign influence in U.S. educational institutions.
Government officials argue that these steps are necessary to protect the country’s interests and ensure that external funding does not affect academic priorities.
Merit-Based Admissions Over Diversity
The second order challenges how universities choose students. The administration wants schools to focus on academic merit rather than race, gender, or background. Trump’s team believes that current diversity-based admissions hurt high-performing students.
The new policy aims to reduce what the administration calls “woke” criteria, encouraging schools to adopt a more merit-based approach in college admissions.
Harvard’s Defiance
Harvard University has repeatedly refused to comply with several federal requests, including ending diversity programs and working with immigration enforcement. In response, the Trump administration has frozen significant federal funding to the university.
This ongoing conflict highlights the struggle between the federal government and academic institutions. Trump’s administration seeks reforms that align with conservative values, while universities like Harvard defend their policies and independence.
The clash between the Trump administration and universities, especially Harvard, reflects a broader debate over the role of social equity in education. As both sides dig in their heels, it remains to be seen how these issues will affect the future of higher education in the U.S.
