Story perspectives

Trump Administration Moves to Weaken Disparate Impact Protections

12/13/2025

Summary

Story summary

The U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration is seeking to minimize enforcement of the disparate impact doctrine by removing it from Title VI regulations of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
The disparate impact doctrine holds that discrimination can be illegal when it results from policies with unlawful effects, even without intent.
While intentional discrimination remains illegal, the change could impact diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts in education.

1 of 1

Story summary

The U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration is seeking to minimize enforcement of the disparate impact doctrine by removing it from Title VI regulations of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
The disparate impact doctrine holds that discrimination can be illegal when it results from policies with unlawful effects, even without intent.
While intentional discrimination remains illegal, the change could impact diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts in education.