Trump administration curtails federal tools to address systemic racism in US schools

The Trump administration has moved to limit federal remedies for addressing systemic racism in American schools.

In the summer, the U.S. Education Department rescinded a regulation that let schools compare outcomes across races, such as the racial composition of advanced‑class enrolments, to gauge potential discrimination. It also issued a letter stating that considering race in discipline policies is illegal, even where one racial group is suspended or expelled more often.

At the same time, the Justice Department reported that it has closed more than 50 school desegregation cases since President Trump took office and is preparing motions to dismiss many others. Earlier administrations used such court cases to hold schools accountable for disparate outcomes affecting students of colour.

In May 2025, President Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to stop looking for “disparate impact” – policies that appear neutral but have outsized effects on particular groups. The order targets school discipline practices, including suspensions, expulsions and referrals to law enforcement, which data show disproportionately affect Black students.

Critics warn the changes could make it easier for racial discrimination to go unchecked, with some likening the shift to a return to pre‑1954 segregation standards.

Source: ABC News. Photo: Edias Vandirai / Pexels.