Emory University is shutting down its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) office and ending related programming in response to directives issued by President Trump’s Department of Education. The move follows a federal crackdown on DEI initiatives at institutions receiving federal funding.
In a message sent to the campus on September 3, Interim President Leah Ward Sears confirmed the dismantling of Emory’s DEI infrastructure. She cited recent federal guidance and executive orders that prohibit public and federally supported institutions from continuing race-based programs and diversity offices. Sears stated the university would provide transitional support to affected staff but offered no plans to reinstate the DEI office under a different structure.
The now-defunct office included Emory’s Division of Campus Life DEI office and other equity-focused programs. These offices had promoted training sessions, workshops, and hiring practices based on race and gender ideology. Their closure marks a major reversal at one of Georgia’s largest and most influential private universities.
The Georgia NAACP responded by requesting a formal meeting with university leaders, demanding answers by September 30. The group criticized the decision, arguing that the absence of DEI offices would harm “marginalized” students and staff. Emory’s leadership has not yet responded publicly to the NAACP’s request.
Despite the closure, Sears maintained that Emory would continue to promote “fairness, belonging, and opportunity for all,” though she did not explain how those goals would be met without DEI structures. Critics note that removing race-based programming does not prevent universities from enforcing equal treatment under existing civil rights laws.
The decision places Emory alongside other institutions that have recently shut down DEI programs, including the University of Michigan. These actions come after the Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling against race-based admissions and President Trump’s subsequent executive orders barring taxpayer-funded DEI practices.
Observers expect additional universities to follow suit as enforcement of the new federal guidelines expands. Legal experts warn that institutions choosing to ignore the mandates could risk federal funding and legal consequences.
