The Trump administration has issued a new memorandum warning colleges and K-12 schools that using application essays, geography, legacy status or other indirect factors as “unlawful proxies” for race in admissions, financial aid or hiring violates federal civil-rights law. The document, released 24–25 Aug. 2025 by the Departments of Education and Justice, says institutions must eliminate any practice that intentionally or predictably yields racial preferences, citing Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and the Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause. The guidance broadens the reach of the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling that struck down race-conscious affirmative-action programs by targeting subtler diversity tactics still employed on many campuses. Administration officials said policies that rely on race-correlated metrics could expose schools to federal enforcement and legal liability. Higher-education leaders in Chicago, Boston and other cities warn the rules could dismantle measures they consider essential to balancing equity with academic excellence. Separately, a coalition led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta argued that privately funded scholarships earmarked for specific racial or ethnic groups remain permissible because they are not governed by Title VI. Federal oversight efforts are already intensifying. On 25 Aug. the Education Department opened an investigation into Burlington Public Schools in Massachusetts after parents complained that a student survey covering drug use, sexual activity and gender identity was administered despite opt-outs. The department has also informed George Mason University that its workforce-diversification program violates anti-segregation law, underscoring the administration’s broader campaign against diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.