Explained: How Trump's 10-point memo directs US universities to ban race and sex in hiring and admissions

The United States government has directed nine prominent universities to comply with a set of new requirements to receive “preferential access” to federal funding. The move, detailed in a memo titled “A Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education”, comes as part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to restrict the role of race and sex in university admissions and faculty hiring.

Nine US universities were asked to cut foreign enrollment and ensure that departments do not “belittle” conservative ideas, as conditions for maintaining federal support. The White House has not publicly explained why these nine institutions were selected.

The memo’s key requirement
Among the ten points outlined in the memorandum, the most consequential mandates that universities must disregard race and sex when admitting students and hiring faculty or staff. Institutions that fail to comply risk losing federal benefits, while those that align with the guidelines are positioned to receive preferential funding.

The memo effectively reinforces prior actions by the Trump administration targeting race-conscious admissions policies, including affirmative action. In August 2025, the administration issued directives requiring colleges to submit detailed admissions data to prove that race is not considered in their decision-making processes. The new policy reflects the administration’s view that some colleges may still be using personal statements, essays, or other proxies to account for race, which conservatives interpret as a violation of Supreme Court rulings.

Historical context
In 2023, the Supreme Court prohibited the use of affirmative action in admissions but permitted applicants to discuss how race has shaped their lives in personal essays. The Trump administration has argued that even these essays may serve as indirect methods for universities to consider race, prompting increased scrutiny and reporting requirements.

Under previous agreements with institutions such as Brown University and Columbia University, the Department of Education obtained data on applicants’ race, grade point averages, and standardized test scores. Colleges were also subject to audits and required to release admissions statistics publicly. These settlements were framed as conditions for restoring federal research funding.

Federal funding shifts
The Trump administration’s efforts extend beyond admissions. In September 2025, it announced the elimination of $350 million in federal grants reserved for minority-serving colleges. This included funding for Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Black-serving programs, and programs tied to Asian American, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment. The administration argued that awarding grants based on racial or ethnic enrollment constitutes unconstitutional racial quotas.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon defended the decision, stating that “diversity is not merely the presence of a skin color” and that focusing on immutable characteristics diminishes the full picture of an individual’s contributions, character, and merit. The administration has proposed redirecting these funds toward institutions serving “underprepared or under-resourced” students, though no concrete plan has been outlined.

Legal and political implications
These measures have already prompted legal challenges. Groups including Tennessee and Students for Fair Admissions have contested the removal of grants, arguing that they unfairly exclude institutions that do not meet specific ethnic thresholds. Critics argue that stripping funding risks undoing decades of progress in supporting first-generation and minority students.

While the Supreme Court ruling limits the consideration of race in admissions, colleges have implemented alternative strategies to maintain diversity, such as focusing on socioeconomic background, low-income applicants, and top-performing students from each community. Nevertheless, the Trump administration maintains that existing practices may circumvent the law, necessitating stricter oversight.

Universities affected
The nine universities that received the memo include:

• University of Arizona
• Brown University
• Dartmouth College
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• University of Pennsylvania
• University of Southern California
• University of Texas
• University of Virginia
• Vanderbilt University

Compliance with the memo’s directives is critical for these institutions to maintain federal support, which underpins both research initiatives and operational funding.

The Trump administration’s 10-point memo represents a continuation of its efforts to limit the consideration of race and sex in higher education. By linking federal funding to adherence, the administration has created a legal and administrative framework that challenges longstanding practices in university admissions and hiring. For universities, the policy raises questions about balancing compliance with federal requirements against efforts to foster diverse and inclusive campuses.