Colleges Cut Ties with Nonprofit Targeted by Conservatives Out of Fear

Introduction to the Issue

Until recently, it was a little-known program to help Black and Latino students pursue business degrees. But in January, conservative strategist Christopher Rufo flagged the program known as The PhD Project in social media posts that caught the attention of Republican politicians. The program is now at the center of a Trump administration campaign to root out diversity, equity and inclusion programs in higher education.

Background on the PhD Project

The U.S. Education Department last week said it was investigating dozens of universities for alleged racial discrimination, citing ties to the nonprofit organization. That followed a warning a month earlier that schools could lose federal money over “race-based preferences” in admissions, scholarships or any aspect of student life. The investigations left some school leaders startled and confused, wondering what prompted the inquiries. Many scrambled to distance themselves from The PhD Project, which has aimed to help diversify the business world and higher education faculty.

The Trump Administration’s Investigation

The rollout of the investigations highlights the climate of fear and uncertainty in higher education, which President Donald Trump’s administration has begun policing for policies that run afoul of his agenda even as he moves to dismantle the Education Department.
FILE – The headquarters of the U.S. Department of Education, March 12, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)

The Trump Administration Asked Colleges to Explain Ties to The PhD Project

There is a range of nonprofits that work to help minority groups advance in higher education but The PhD Project was not well known before Rufo began posting on X about its work with colleges, said Jonathan Fansmith, senior vice president of government relations at the American Council on Education, an association of college presidents. “It’s not hard to draw some lines between that incident and why 45 institutions that were partners with The PhD Project are getting this investigation announced,” he said.

Colleges Under Investigation

The 45 colleges under investigation for ties to the organization include public universities such as Arizona State, Ohio State and the University of California, Berkeley, along with private schools like Yale, Cornell, Duke and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The Education Department sent letters to the universities informing them its Office for Civil Rights had received a complaint and they were under investigation for allegedly discriminating against students on the basis of race or ethnicity because of a past affiliation with The PhD Project. The letters set a March 31 deadline for information about their relationship with the nonprofit.

Reactions from Colleges

Public reaction from the universities’ leadership has been minimal and cautious, with most issuing brief statements saying they will cooperate with investigators and refusing further comment. Colleges may see reason not to push back. The Trump administration has shown willingness to withhold federal funding over issues involving antisemitism allegations, diversity programs and transgender athletes. At Columbia University, under fire for its handling of pro-Palestinian protests, the administration pulled $400 million in federal money and threatened billions more if it does not comply with its demands.

Colleges Tread Carefully on Inquiries that Threaten Federal Funding

“There is a concern that if one university steps up and fights this then that university will have all of their funding cut,” said Veena Dubal, general counsel for the American Association of University Professors. “They are being hindered not just by fear but a real collective action problem. None of these universities wants to be the next example.” Some colleges moved swiftly to stop working with The PhD Project. The University of Kentucky said it severed ties with the nonprofit on Monday. The University of Wyoming said in a statement that its college of business was affiliated with the group to develop its graduate student pipeline, but it plans to discontinue its membership.

The Origin of the Campaign Against the Nonprofit

Similar fallout came in Texas earlier this year, when Rufo began posting on X about the PhD Project. “Texas A&M is sponsoring a trip to a DEI conference,” Rufo posted on Jan. 13. Rufo, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, a conservative think tank, accused the university of “supporting racial segregation and breaking the law.” The next day Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbot posted on X that the university “president will soon be gone” unless he immediately “fixed” the matter. Texas A&M responded by withdrawing from the conference, and soon after at least eight other Texas public universities that had participated previously in The PhD Project’s conference also withdrew, the Texas Tribune reported.

Conclusion

The investigations and subsequent reactions from colleges highlight the increasingly tense relationship between the Trump administration and institutions of higher education. As the administration continues to police diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, colleges are faced with the difficult decision of whether to stand by their values or risk losing federal funding. The outcome of these investigations and the future of programs like The PhD Project remain uncertain, but one thing is clear: the climate of fear and uncertainty in higher education is having a chilling effect on colleges and universities across the country.

FAQs

• Q: What is The PhD Project?
  • A: The PhD Project is a nonprofit organization aimed at helping Black and Latino students pursue business degrees and diversify the business world and higher education faculty.
• Q: Why is the Trump administration investigating colleges with ties to The PhD Project?
  • A: The Trump administration is investigating dozens of universities for alleged racial discrimination, citing ties to The PhD Project, as part of a broader campaign to root out diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in higher education.
• Q: How have colleges reacted to the investigations?
  • A: Many colleges have been cautious in their response, issuing brief statements saying they will cooperate with investigators. Some have moved to distance themselves from The PhD Project, severing ties or discontinuing membership.
• Q: What are the potential consequences for colleges under investigation?
  • A: Colleges under investigation risk losing federal funding if found to be in violation of federal laws regarding racial discrimination.
• Q: What is the origin of the campaign against The PhD Project?
  • A: The campaign against The PhD Project began with social media posts by conservative strategist Christopher Rufo, which caught the attention of Republican politicians and led to the Trump administration’s investigation.