State Department May Suspend 38 Universities Over DEI Initiatives

The State Department is considering suspending 38 universities, including prominent institutions like Harvard, Yale, and Stanford, from federal research collaboration programs. The reason seems to be their ongoing commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

A memo dated November 17 indicated that the department is scrutinizing schools that actively engage in DEI hiring practices or have DEI-related goals for candidates. If these reviews persist, affected universities could be excluded from the Diplomacy Lab program starting January 1, 2026, as reported.

Among the top contenders for suspension are Stanford, Yale, Johns Hopkins, Duke, and the University of Southern California. Additionally, universities such as American University, George Washington University, and several University of California campuses could also be impacted.

If the suspensions are enforced, program opportunities may shift to institutions like Liberty University, Brigham Young University, and various universities in Missouri and Texas.

Established in 2013, the Diplomacy Lab is essentially a collaboration between the State Department and over 60 U.S. academic institutions, both public and private, including community colleges and those serving minority populations. This partnership is meant to facilitate research on themes identified as priorities by the State Department.

Since the beginning of the year, the Trump Administration has taken a firm stance against DEI initiatives in federal operations, warning that universities risk losing federal funding if they continue those practices. A spokesperson for the State Department stated, “The Trump Administration has been very clear about its position on DEI. The State Department reviews all programs to ensure they align with the President’s agenda.”

As of now, Fox News Digital has reached out to the affected universities for their responses.