Donald Trump signs groundbreaking order on HBCUs as he tightens screws on Ivies

Washington D.C.: President Donald Trump has signed a series of executive orders Wednesday aimed at reconfiguring the higher education landscape in the US. The orders reflect the administration’s renewed focus on enforcing oversight over college accreditation and foreign donations and ensuring a merit-based process.

One order directs stricter enforcement of existing laws requiring universities to disclose large foreign gifts. Another targets college accreditation, which Trump has called his “secret weapon” to transform US higher education.

White House staff secretary Will Scharf criticized existing accreditors for promoting “woke ideology” over merit-based standards. Education Secretary Linda McMahon echoed the sentiment, saying that universities must emphasize merit and enforce standards more rigorously.

These actions follow years of Trump-led criticism against US universities, which he has accused of being run by “Marxist maniacs". His administration has previously cut funding, banned DEI programs, and detained international students over political activism.

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In addition to efforts against DEI policies, Trump signed an order to promote Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), aiming to improve affordability, retention, and innovation. He also introduced initiatives focused on workforce development and artificial intelligence (AI) education to prepare students for the future job market.

The White House stated that accreditors failing to meet civil rights standards could face denial or revocation of their recognition. Trump emphasized a need to move away from the “DEI cult” and restore traditional academic values.