Trump’s impact on higher education leaves lasting effects, The Supreme Court finally hears the issues surrounding transgender athletes, and the administration drops its appeal in a federal DEI decision.
Higher Education
January 20, 2026 marked the end of Trump’s first year in office of his second presidential term. After a year of historic tactics, the administration’s impact on higher education has been significant and widespread.
Investigations into colleges and universities:
In March 2025, the Department of Education (DOE) put 60 colleges on notice, alleging they failed to protect Jewish students from discrimination. Secretary Linda McMahon threatened to withhold the schools’ federal funding and later opened 51 additional investigations, arguing the programs contained race-based restrictions and potential Title VI violations. In total, the administration opened or cited more than 150 investigations in its first year. Six colleges and universities publicly brokered deals with the administration to reinstate their federal funding and avoid further scrutiny.
Dismantling of the DOE:
Throughout 2025, Trump slashed the DOE’s employee count nearly in half. In October, a second layoff of 466 employees occurred during the longest government shutdown in US history. Legal rulings are ongoing, and some employees returned to work from paid leave, but other layoffs remain as courts determine legality.
Immigration and student visas:
The State Department revoked more than 8,000 student visas, stating that at least 200 to 300 of them stemmed from terrorism-related claims. The administration canceled the legal status of hundreds of international students, and lawsuits regarding the decision grew. The administration announced in April it would reverse the decision as it planned to adopt a formal policy.
DEI
For the first time, the Supreme Court heard arguments on transgender athletic participation in women’s sports.
Combined cases Little v. Hecox and West Virginia v. B.P.J explore state laws in Idaho and West Virginia that forbid women and girls from participating in sports teams that align with their gender identity. Justices explored the policies, including how to define a woman, sex, what’s considered “fair” in women’s sports, and whether or not to return the cases to lower courts. Conservative justices, making up a 6-3 majority of the court, seemed inclined to allow the state’s bans to proceed, but others expressed wanting to allow states to keep their transgender-inclusive policies. The court is expected to make its final ruling at the end of June.
Legal Developments
The DOE dropped its appeal of a federal court ruling that blocked campaigns against diversity, equity, and inclusion.
The dispute centered on a Dear Colleague Letter from February promising schools and colleges they would lose federal money if they maintained practices considered to be DEI. Abandoning the appeal reaffirms a federal judge’s August decision that the anti-DEI effort violated the First Amendment and federal procedural rules.
How We Can Help
As education professionals stay informed of all federal updates and prepare for their impact, TIXC can help keep your schools compliant. For general up-to-date information and how it affects you and your institution, join us for TIXC Thursdays on the first Thursday of every month. For more information about our consulting services, including advising, hearing adjudication, and investigation, contact us at info@titleixconsult.com.