Updates: April 11, 2025

Federal

• The Department of Education published FAQs on the Dear Colleague letter that orders education institutions to cease DEI activities or lose federal funding, with more detail on how the SFFA decision will be interpreted across nearly all education programs, not only admissions, and also how they will assess for racial discrimination in programs and policies that are race neutral.

• The Department of Justice launched an investigation of UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC Irvine and Stanford, claiming violation of SFFA ruling and racial discrimination in admissions.The Dept of Education sent a memo to State Education Agencies to certify compliance with Title VI and eliminate DEI programs in K-12 or lose federal funds. So far 10 states have refused to sign and California may also.

• NIH U54 grants for faculty diversity recruitment (FIRST) programs were terminated. In addition, R25, T34, T32, KL2 programs have been terminated, and some individual K01/K08, K99/R00 grants also cancelled.

• International students and scholars had their records deactivated from SEVIS

State

• The Regents of the University of California ordered the end of required statements of contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion, in recruitment and hiring. This decision originated from the regents, not UC Office of the President, nor advised by Faculty senate.