Lawmakers, education leaders condemn Penn for dropping DEI protections in response to executive order

President Donald Trump's drive to eliminate diversity initiatives on university campuses did not prevent minority students from organizing their own celebration after the University of Kentucky cancelled ceremonies to honor their graduates who are Black or from other historically marginalized groups.

Lawmakers, education leaders condemn Penn for dropping DEI protections in response to executive order

At a hearing Friday on diversity, equity and inclusion efforts at Philadelphia universities, local politicians and higher education leaders condemned the University of Pennsylvania's decision to remove DEI language from its policies and websites in response to an executive order from President Donald Trump.

Fort Worth Business Leaders Advance Inclusion Beyond DEI Bans

The political climate around diversity programs has changed in 2025. After winning re-election in November 2024, President Trump quickly moved to shut down federal diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) offices. In his first week back in office, he issued orders to end DEI programs in all federal agencies, calling them “dangerous, demeaning, and immoral.” The national ban on DEI caused intense opposition, with businesses and state governments ru…