The U.S. government announced on Thursday its intention to impose taxes on private schools and universities that implement criteria favoring specific “races” under the guise of promoting diversity, according to reports.
Since returning to the White House, President Donald Trump has been engaged in a political battle against any form of affirmative action, targeting practices in universities, companies, and government institutions.
In May, the U.S. Department of Justice accused Yale School of Medicine of discriminating against white and Asian candidates following an investigation into diversity practices at the prestigious institution.
In a statement, the U.S. Treasury Department indicated it plans to revoke the tax-exempt status of private institutions that promote discriminatory practices.
The department aims for this measure to take effect starting in the fiscal year beginning May 31, 2027.
This initiative could impact all levels of education, from primary to higher education, affecting an estimated “up to 18,000 institutions” across the United States, according to Treasury calculations.
The statement emphasized that a private school will no longer be eligible for tax exemption if it adopts, maintains, or enforces any discriminatory policy or practice based on race, color, national origin, or ethnicity.
However, according to the Treasury, recruitment and scholarship allocations may still continue to “assist disadvantaged students using criteria independent of race, such as family income and geographic origin.”
