February 03, 2025

Event in Review: A Discussion of the Trump Administration's Anticipated Priorities for Higher Education

Transition Outlook Webinar Series: What to Expect from the Second Trump Administration

2 min

In a recent webinar discussing the Trump administration's anticipated priorities for higher education, Venable legal and policy professionals outlined sweeping changes already under way in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies; campus anti-Semitism enforcement; and transgender participation in athletics. The conversation emphasized that President Trump has wasted no time in acting on his campaign promises. Within his first days in office, he signed executive orders dismantling DEI initiatives, increasing scrutiny of universities' responses to campus anti-Semitism, and reinforcing binary gender definitions in federal policy.

Ben Stockman, a labor and employment partner, highlighted the administration's immediate crackdown on DEI programs, citing Trump's executive order directing federal agencies to "terminate and dismantle" DEI offices. Robin Burroughs added that institutions of higher education, particularly those with large endowments, are now potential targets for federal lawsuits and investigations under this directive. The administration's actions follow a broader national pushback against race- and gender-conscious policies, an effort that gained traction after the Supreme Court's Students for Fair Admissions ruling, which struck down race-conscious college admissions policies.

The panel also discussed the administration's sharp focus on combating campus anti-Semitism, with partner Doreen Martin referencing a newly issued executive order directing the Justice Department to prosecute anti-Semitic crimes and revoke visas for international students deemed sympathetic to Hamas. Additionally, Trump's executive actions on gender identity and athletics signal a rollback of Biden-era Title IX protections for transgender students. With pending legal battles, including state-level disputes over transgender participation in sports, institutions are advised to prepare for shifting legal interpretations.

As Stockman concluded, "These discussions lead to more questions than answers," making it clear that universities will need to navigate a rapidly changing landscape in higher education policy.

To learn more about upcoming webinars or watch past recordings from our series, Transition Outlook: What to Expect from the Second Trump Administration, click here. The weekly webinar series runs through March 2025.