38 US Universities Could Be Suspended from State Department Research Partnership Over DEI Hiring Policies

More than three dozen American universities — including several Ivy League and leading private institutions — may be suspended from a State Department research partnership because of their diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) hiring practices. A 17 November internal memo and accompanying spreadsheet recommend removing 38 schools from the Diplomacy Lab program, which pairs university researchers with State Department policy offices on foreign policy projects. The proposed changes would take effect on 1 January, though the list remains subject to revision and affected campuses have not been formally notified.

Who is affected

The recommendation would reshape the Diplomacy Lab network: 38 institutions would be removed and 10 new schools cleared to join. Targeted schools include Stanford, Yale, Johns Hopkins, Duke and the University of Southern California, as well as American University, George Washington University, Syracuse University and multiple University of California campuses.

Which schools remain

By contrast, the memo recommends that Columbia, MIT, the University of Michigan, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Virginia and the University of Texas at Austin remain in the program. Several of those universities altered policies earlier in the year in response to federal pressure: for example, Columbia agreed in July to pay more than $200 million as part of a settlement and pledged not to consider "race, color, sex or national origin" in hiring decisions, and the University of Virginia’s president resigned in June after federal scrutiny of the school’s diversity practices.

Voices from campus

Peter Trumbore, chair of political science and Diplomacy Lab coordinator at Oakland University — a school listed for suspension — said his campus had received no formal notice. He added that Oakland University does not receive direct State Department funding for Diplomacy Lab projects and that students have gained "invaluable experiences" conducting research for the department.

The University of Southern California issued a statement saying it complies with federal nondiscrimination laws, "does not engage in any unlawful DEI hiring practices," and values its federal partnerships. USC also noted it received travel support from the program for two students in 2017.

Sarah Voigt, director of communications at St. Catherine University, said the school participated in Diplomacy Lab since 2020 but experienced an earlier pause in activities on 31 January this year "due to a lack of government funding" and did not apply for Fall 2025 research opportunities. She added that St. Catherine has not been informed of any decision to exclude it from future projects.

Policy change and official comment

The memo instructs an office within the State Department’s Bureau of Public Affairs to revise participation criteria to "only include institutions with merit-based hiring practices" and to exclude those that maintain DEI hiring policies, whether explicitly stated or implemented discreetly.

The State Department acknowledged the memo and, when asked, said: "The administration is clear about its stance on DEI. The State Department is reviewing all programs to ensure they are in line with the president’s agenda."

What happens next

The proposed suspensions could significantly alter how the State Department collaborates with academic researchers on foreign policy issues. Because the list is not final, campuses may still receive formal notices or appeals processes could alter outcomes. Observers say the change raises questions about academic freedom, the role of DEI policies in hiring, and how federal programs evaluate partner institutions.