UPenn’s Response to Federal Funding Threat
The University of Pennsylvania had a quick showdown with President Trump regarding its stance on transgender athletes. Recently, the Ivy League institution decided to prohibit men from competing in women’s sports after the Trump administration threatened to withhold $175 million in federal funding for breaching Title IX, which outlaws sex-based discrimination.
This action by the Trump administration, while significant for families, highlights a broader issue: policing college campuses feels a lot like playing whack-a-mole. We really need to get to the root of the problem, not just address the symptoms.
Essentially, the culture at many traditional four-year universities is shaped by a set of regulations meant to maintain the status quo. This, in turn, corners students into institutions that are more focused on social agendas, spending heavily to win over policymakers.
Take, for instance, the Department of Education’s Gainful Employment Rule. It’s a lengthy regulation that was reintroduced during the Biden administration after being removed during Trump’s first term. Many Americans probably aren’t even aware of it.
This rule mandates that career colleges offering vocational training justify that their graduates earn more than those with just a high school diploma and don’t take on too much student debt. Strangely, unelected regulators decided it should apply only to career colleges, leaving four-year universities untouched.
Here’s the deal: the Gainful Employment Rule evaluates a typical graduate from a vocational program against individuals aged 25-34 in their state who didn’t pursue college. But it overlooks the fact that career college students often have diverse responsibilities—like parenting or part-time jobs—that might affect their earnings. For example, it seems a bit unfair to compare a 22-year-old single parent with a cosmetology degree to a construction worker with years of experience and a high school diploma.
This rule embodies a clear double standard.
Reportedly, if this measure were applied to all colleges, traditional institutions would fail 80% to 90% of the time. It’s not surprising, considering that students at career and technical schools focus on fields like nursing, IT, and mechanics. In contrast, elite schools like UPenn offer majors in areas such as Feminist Studies, LGBTQ Studies, and other similar subjects.
These so-called “elite” fields of study don’t seem to prepare students for real job opportunities. Yet, according to some bureaucrats, there’s an apparent demand for such wokeness among employers.
The Gainful Employment Rule exemplifies how progressives have cultivated a college environment dominated by liberal ideology. This system serves to protect traditional universities while attempting to undermine career colleges.
The Biden administration has channeled billions into promoting DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) initiatives and other progressive principles, launching aggressive campaigns against faith-based institutions and pushing for student loan forgiveness, even after legal setbacks.
In the midst of this, President Trump and Education Secretary Linda McMahon have taken steps toward restoring balance in higher education. Trump empowered McMahon by instructing agencies to eliminate any regulations that exceed their authority or are deemed unlawful.
Addressing the core issue affecting campuses—not just symptoms—will demand a restoration of student choice, competition, and innovation, all of which the Trump administration has prioritized. A significant part of that effort includes repealing the Gainful Employment Rule that unfairly targets career schools.
