Latest news with #DEI-related
Time of India
31-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Now University of Iowa under state investigation as US intensifies DEI fight across campuses
Governor Kim Reynolds files complaint as University of Iowa faces US DEI probe. (Getty Images) The University of Iowa is currently under investigation by the Iowa Attorney General's Office following a formal complaint filed by Governor Kim Reynolds. The action stems from a video that appears to show a university employee discussing ways staff might be working around new state laws restricting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs. The complaint was submitted directly by Governor Reynolds to Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, who confirmed that her office has opened an official investigation. The case has drawn national attention as it aligns with broader efforts to curtail DEI-related initiatives across public institutions in the US. Video triggers complaint and legal response The video, which surfaced publicly and was discussed during a meeting of the Iowa Board of Regents, appeared to show a University of Iowa employee discussing how DEI-related efforts may still be taking place despite legislative restrictions. Governor Reynolds stated in her complaint that the video shows "a blatant disregard for the law and the will of the Legislature — that simply should not be tolerated," as reported by KCCI. Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird confirmed her office's involvement in the matter. "We have received the Governor's complaint against the University of Iowa and have opened an investigation," Bird's office stated, according to KCCI. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Access all TV channels anywhere, anytime Techno Mag Learn More Undo The office emphasized that "Regent universities must comply with our state laws, including the Iowa Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Act — Iowa Code Chapter 261J, Iowa Code Chapter 19, and also an Executive Order signed by President Trump on January 22, 2025. " State officials call for accountability Sherry Bates, president of the Iowa Board of Regents, addressed the issue at the regents' meeting. "This is unacceptable," she said. "Following the law is not optional, nor is working around the law," as quoted by KCCI. University of Iowa President Barbara Wilson responded to the allegations during the meeting, saying the university "takes these allegations with the utmost seriousness." She added that the institution has already reached out to the Board of Regents and the Iowa Attorney General's Office to coordinate investigative efforts, and confirmed that "if at any point we find the policies or laws have been violated, we will take the necessary corrective actions without hesitation," as reported by KCCI. Law prohibits DEI offices and related programs The law cited in the complaint was signed by Governor Reynolds in 2024 and officially took effect on July 1, 2025. It includes a provision banning DEI offices and related programs at Iowa's public universities. Republican House Representative Taylor Collins said he shares the Governor's concern. 'Those folks need to be held accountable,' Collins said. 'Those folks need to be fired,' he added, referring to employees found in violation of the law, as reported by KCCI. Collins also stated that Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa have shown more willingness to comply. Democratic lawmaker challenges interpretation Democratic House Representative Rob Johnson offered a different perspective. He told KCCI that the video does not appear to show someone trying to circumvent the law. "Even after watching the video, it felt like somebody was really trying their best to stick up for people," he said. Johnson further stated that he believes the law is flawed. "We have to make sure that we're looking at diversity," he said, "because if we do not, then we're going to miss out on opportunities of looking at other people's religion, looking at other people's faith, and looking at other people's opportunity to get the medicine that they may even need," as reported by KCCI. TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here . Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
NBC News
31-07-2025
- Politics
- NBC News
Trump memo asks recipients of federal funds to ban DEI programs
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Justice Department issued a memo on Wednesday that asked recipients of federal funds to ban diversity, equity and inclusion programs, which President Donald Trump has aimed to dismantle since taking office in January. Trump has passed executive orders aimed at restricting DEI but Wednesday's memo laid out specific examples of actions that it said federal fund recipients should restrict — such as some training sessions and policies aimed at protected groups. It also said federal funds should not be used to support third parties that engage in DEI. Recipients of federal funds range from schools, colleges and universities to nonprofit organizations and private firms that are government contractors. The memo was released publicly by the Justice Department. In an example to support one of its recommendations, the memo said that 'a scholarship program must not target 'underserved geographic areas' or 'first-generation students' if the criteria are chosen to increase participation by specific racial or sex-based groups.' It added: 'Instead, use universally applicable criteria, such as academic merit or financial hardship, applied without regard to protected characteristics or demographic goals.' In another recommendation, it said a program targeting low-income students 'must be applied uniformly without targeting areas or populations to achieve racial or sex-based outcomes.' Federal law already bars discrimination on grounds of race, gender and Trump administration has eliminated DEI-related programs in the government and fired many people who worked in those initiatives. It has faced some legal pushback. Several private firms have rolled back such initiatives in recent months. DEI programs have been part of workplace diversity efforts to ensure fairer representation for groups seen as historically marginalized, such as African Americans and other ethnic minorities in the United States, LGBTQ+ community members, women, and people with disabilities. Civil rights advocates say DEI helps address the continued effects of historical and generational inequity and aims to remove systemic barriers for groups affected by a legacy of racism, sexism and xenophobia. Trump and his allies say DEI unfairly discriminates against other Americans, including white people and men, and weakens the importance of merit in job hiring or promotion. DEI practices include training on how to combat discrimination, addressing pay inequity along gender or racial lines and broadening recruitment and access for underrepresented ethnic groups. The Trump administration has threatened to cut federal funds given to institutions over a range of issues like pro-Palestinian protests against U.S. ally Israel's war in Gaza, climate initiatives, transgender policies and DEI programs.
Time of India
30-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Duke University's healthcare faces $108 million federal funding freeze amid discrimination probe under Trump administration
Trump freezes $108 million federal funds for Duke Health amid discrimination probe. The Trump administration has frozen $108 million in federal funding allocated to Duke Health, citing allegations of systemic racial discrimination across Duke University's healthcare and academic systems. The move intensifies the administration's ongoing crackdown on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in higher education and healthcare institutions. The funding block, first reported by Fox News and confirmed by a senior administration official, impacts Duke University School of Medicine as well as its broader healthcare research and delivery operations. Title VI compliance under scrutiny This decision comes just a day after Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Education Secretary Linda McMahon sent a formal letter to Duke officials—President Vincent Price, Board Chairman Adam Silver, and Dean of the School of Medicine Mary Klotman—raising serious concerns over alleged 'racial preferences in hiring, student admissions, governance, patient care, and other operations. ' According to the letter, the federal government is investigating whether Duke is in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which bars racial or national origin discrimination in federally funded programs. The letter urges Duke to audit its policies and form a 'Merit and Civil Rights Committee' to liaise with federal authorities. 'If Duke does not comply and is found to be in violation, the $108 million in federal support could be permanently rescinded,' the administration official stated. Duke Health has yet to publicly comment on the funding freeze. DEI crackdown in Trump's second term President Trump has repeatedly vowed to dismantle DEI initiatives, which his administration claims 'exacerbate conflict and entrench bias.' In his second term, sweeping executive orders have banned DEI programs across federal agencies and threatened universities with funding cuts for maintaining diversity-related policies. In February 2025, the Department of Education warned academic institutions of potential sanctions over DEI-related activity, leading many universities to scale back or eliminate such programs entirely. Some even lost federal scholarships or research grants. Critics argue that DEI efforts foster inclusive learning environments and promote civic engagement. Numerous studies indicate that exposure to diverse peers on campus enhances cultural understanding and political participation among students. Impact on Duke's operations The funding cut comes at a time when Duke and other top-tier research universities are facing broader challenges, including declining grant allocations from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). According to the Duke Chronicle , the university has already launched a voluntary separation incentive and is preparing for layoffs in August. With the future of its federal support uncertain, Duke Health may face not just reputational risk but also major operational disruptions. TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here . Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
Chicago Tribune
26-07-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Judge issues temporary injunction against Trump administration cancellation of humanities grants
WASHINGTON — A district court judge in New York issued a preliminary injunction Friday night stopping the mass cancellation of National Endowment for the Humanities grants to members of the Authors Guild on the grounds that their First Amendment rights were violated. Judge Colleen McMahon of the U.S. District Court in the Southern District of New York stayed the mass cancellations of grants previously awarded to guild members and ordered that any funds associated with the grants not be reobligated until a trial on the merits of the case is held. In reaching her decision, the judge said the 'defendants terminated the grants based on the recipients' perceived viewpoint, in an effort to drive such views out of the marketplace of ideas. This is most evident by the citation in the Termination Notices to executive orders purporting to combat 'Radical Indoctrination' and 'Radical … DEI Programs,' and to further 'Biological Truth.'' One of the grants was to a professor writing a book on the reemergence of the Ku Klux Klan in the 1970s and 1980s. On a spreadsheet entitled 'Copy of NEH Active Grants,' the government flagged the work as being connected to diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, McMahon wrote. The judge said several other history projects on the spreadsheet were also canceled in part because of their connection to DEI-related subjects. 'Far be it from this Court to deny the right of the Administration to focus NEH priorities on American history and exceptionalism as the year of our semiquincentennial approaches,' McMahon said. 'Such refocusing is ordinarily a matter of agency discretion. But agency discretion does not include discretion to violate the First Amendment. Nor does not give the Government the right to edit history.' McMahon said some of the grantees lost grants simply because they had received them during the Biden administration. The Guild filed a class action lawsuit in May against the NEH and the Department of Government Efficiency for terminating grants that had already been appropriated by Congress. The humanities groups' lawsuit said DOGE brought the core work of the humanities councils 'to a screeching halt' this spring when it terminated its grant program. 'The decision is a heartening reminder that courts remain a bastion against government overreach and will step in to protect fundamental rights and liberties when they are blatantly threatened,' Mary Rasenberger, CEO of the Authors Guild, said Saturday. The lawsuit was among several filed by humanities groups and historical, research and library associations to try to stop funding cuts and the dissolution of federal agencies and organizations. McMahon noted her injunction is narrowly tailored 'to maintain the status quo until we can decide whether Plaintiffs are entitled to ultimate relief. It does nothing more.' The judge denied a temporary injunction request from the American Council of Learned Societies, as well as several of their claims in the lawsuit. Their case included the American Historical Association and the Modern Language Association.
Time of India
26-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
NY District Court intervenes in Trump-era education cuts, protects humanities research grants
NY District Court intervenes in Trump-era education cuts A federal court in New York has blocked the cancellation of humanities research grants by the Trump administration, calling the move a likely violation of the First Amendment. The court's decision comes in response to a lawsuit filed by the Authors Guild and other academic organisations after dozens of federal grants were abruptly terminated earlier this year. The ruling, issued by Judge Colleen McMahon of the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, halts the defunding of projects that had already been approved by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). Many of the cancelled grants supported work in areas related to diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI), and controversial aspects of American history. Focus on DEI and history projects raised legal concerns According to the court documents, several grants were cancelled because they were perceived to support DEI-related themes or politically sensitive research. One such project involved a scholarly study of the resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan in the 1970s and 1980s. Internal government spreadsheets reportedly flagged such research under 'DEI' categories before terminating the funding. The termination notices also cited executive orders promoting 'biological truth' and aiming to eliminate 'radical indoctrination' — language Judge McMahon found problematic. She concluded that the government's actions appeared to be viewpoint-based discrimination, which is unconstitutional. Authors Guild and scholars challenge the defunding The Authors Guild filed a class action lawsuit in May, arguing that the defunding effort not only disrupted research but also threatened academic freedom and violated due process. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which led the defunding campaign, was accused of bringing federally supported humanities work to a 'screeching halt.' The Guild's case is one of several filed by national scholarly associations, including the American Historical Association and the Modern Language Association. While the judge declined temporary relief for some groups, she ruled narrowly in favor of the Authors Guild to preserve the current funding status until the case is resolved. Court defends academic freedom over political influence In her ruling, Judge McMahon acknowledged that a presidential administration has the right to set policy priorities, especially as the US approaches its 250th anniversary in 2026. However, she clarified that such discretion does not extend to censoring scholarship or punishing projects based on ideology. 'Agency discretion does not include discretion to violate the First Amendment,' the judge wrote. 'Nor does it give the government the right to edit history.' Implications for the future of federally funded research The case now moves toward a full trial, but the preliminary injunction has already been hailed by many in the academic community as a critical defense of intellectual freedom. The decision temporarily protects previously approved grants and signals broader scrutiny of political interference in federally funded education and research. With rising tensions around what should be taught, funded, or silenced in the classroom, this legal battle is shaping up to be a defining moment for the future of the humanities in America. TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here . Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
