The Trump administration proposed new regulations on September 3, 2020, that would revoke the tax-exempt status of schools—across all education levels—that consider race in any aspect of their operations, including admissions, educational policies, scholarships, loans, athletics, and other programs. The U.S. Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service framed the proposal as part of an ongoing effort to eliminate diversity initiatives perceived as discriminatory against white students, drawing upon recent Supreme Court rulings that have limited the consideration of race in college admissions.
Civil rights advocates argue that diversity practices are essential for addressing historical inequities faced by marginalized ethnic minorities who endured legal discrimination for decades. The American Association of University Professors (AAUP) condemned the proposal, stating it represents an “affirmative attempt to turn civil-rights law against the very people it was enacted to protect” and is considering legal action in response. The Treasury estimated that the regulations could impact up to 18,000 schools and 750,000 students eligible for race-based scholarships, while clarifying that the proposal would not affect private schools’ religious missions or their ability to select students based on religious affiliation, nor would it prevent schools from aiding disadvantaged students using race-neutral criteria such as income, geography, or first-generation status. Read more at Yahoo News