MIT eliminates diversity office and abandons DEI admissions practices while Harvard loses $3 billion in federal funding for refusing to follow suit with President Trump’s merit-based education reforms.
Key Takeaways
- MIT has dissolved its Community and Equity Office, eliminated diversity statements from admissions, and cut a senior DEI administrative position in a major shift toward merit-based evaluation.
- President Trump’s administration has expanded civil rights investigations into MIT over alleged racial discrimination while simultaneously cutting billions in funding to Harvard for maintaining DEI programs.
- MIT has faced financial consequences despite its policy changes, losing up to $35 million in grants and reducing graduate student intake by 8% for 2025-26.
- The university’s president, Sally Kornbluth, has emphasized supporting talented individuals from diverse backgrounds while focusing on merit rather than identity-based admissions criteria.
- MIT’s policy change follows congressional scrutiny of elite universities’ handling of antisemitism on campus, which led to the resignation of Harvard and University of Pennsylvania presidents.
MIT Abandons DEI in Favor of Merit-Based Admissions
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology has made a decisive break from the progressive education establishment by completely shutting down its diversity, equity, and inclusion office. This significant policy shift comes as President Trump continues to reshape higher education priorities across the nation. MIT President Sally Kornbluth has prohibited the use of diversity statements in both faculty hiring and student admissions processes, signaling a return to academic excellence as the primary consideration for America’s premier technology institution. The decision followed a comprehensive assessment of the DEI office’s effectiveness by senior faculty and staff members.
“MIT is in the talent business. Our success depends on attracting exceptionally talented people of every background, from across the country and around the world, and making sure everyone at MIT feels welcome and supported, so they can do their best work and thrive,” said Sally Kornbluth, MIT President.
The institutional restructuring includes the elimination of a senior administrative position that previously oversaw DEI initiatives. In its place, MIT is implementing a merit-based system that evaluates candidates solely on their academic achievements and potential contributions to the fields of science and technology. This approach aligns with the Trump administration’s education policy, which has consistently advocated for ending race-based preferences in educational institutions and returning to America’s tradition of excellence and achievement.
Trump Administration’s Impact on Higher Education Funding
President Trump’s administration has expanded its civil rights investigation into MIT regarding allegations of racial discrimination as part of a broader Title VI investigation examining antisemitic harassment and sex discrimination on campus. Despite MIT’s recent policy changes, the institution has already faced financial consequences, with grant cuts costing the university up to $35 million and forcing an 8% reduction in graduate student intake for the 2025-26 academic year. These measures demonstrate the administration’s commitment to enforcing merit-based practices at America’s elite educational institutions.
“Students must be assessed according to merit and accomplishment, not prejudged by the color of their skin. We will not yield on this commitment,” stated Linda McMahon.
The contrast between MIT’s compliance and Harvard’s resistance is stark. Harvard University has maintained its commitment to DEI programs despite President Trump’s explicit disapproval, resulting in devastating financial consequences. The prestigious institution has lost over $3 billion in federal financing, highlighting the serious financial implications for universities that continue to prioritize identity-based admissions over merit. MIT’s decision to eliminate its DEI office suggests a recognition of this new reality in higher education funding under the Trump administration.
Congressional Scrutiny and Leadership Changes
MIT’s policy shift follows intense congressional scrutiny of elite university presidents regarding antisemitism on campus. President Kornbluth faced questioning from Congress about antisemitic harassment at MIT, similar to the hearings that led to the resignations of the presidents of Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania. Unlike her counterparts, Kornbluth has managed to retain her position while implementing significant policy changes that align more closely with the current administration’s educational priorities.
“Meeting those goals is challenging and the results can be terribly uncomfortable, but it is essential to how we operate in the United States. Those who want us to shut down protest language are in effect, arguing for a speech code, but in practice, speech codes do not work,” Stated Sally Kornbluth, MIT President.
MIT has joined legal challenges against the Trump administration’s grant reductions for research, indicating that while the institution is willing to reform its admissions and hiring practices, it continues to seek federal support for its research initiatives. This calculated approach reflects the complex balancing act facing American universities in the current political climate, where ideological alignment with administration priorities must be weighed against institutional autonomy and research funding needs. For conservative Americans who have long criticized the influence of progressive ideology in higher education, MIT’s policy shift represents a significant victory in the ongoing effort to restore merit-based standards to American education.
