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For years, House Republicans have pushed to put teachers back in charge of their classrooms and to bring transparency to foreign influence in our colleges and universities. These bills have always been blocked by Democrats. But last week, President Trump signed two major Executive Orders essentially bringing these policies into place nationwide.

In 2014, the Obama Administration pressured schools to discipline students based on racial outcomes instead of behavior. This resulted in dangerous and disruptive students staying in classrooms to avoid triggering “racial disparity” statistics. A 2018 Federal report confirmed that schools were covering up misconduct to meet federal racial balance expectations. President Trump had previously rescinded the Obama-era guidance in 2018. Biden reinstated the policy in 2023; President Trump is now eliminating it by Executive Order.

More about executive orders

The Order revokes prior presidential actions approving “disparate impact” theories. It directs agencies to deprioritize enforcement of disparate-impact standards and orders the Attorney General to repeal regulations that allow race-based liability under Title VI. It also reviews pending lawsuits and investigations relying on disparate-impact liability for possible withdrawal.

President Trump is restoring discipline in schools by returning to behavior-based standards — keeping kids and teachers safer.

He signed another order requiring full disclosure of foreign funding to U.S. colleges and universities. For years, foreign governments funneled billions into U.S. institutions with little transparency or accountability. Only about 300 out of 6,000 U.S. colleges self-report foreign gifts. A Senate report described foreign funding at American universities as a “black hole.”

The Order will mandate clear and timely disclosure of foreign gifts and contracts, reverses Biden-era actions that allowed universities to hide foreign ties, authorizes audits and enforcement actions against noncompliant institutions, and allows revocation of some federal grants for failure to report foreign funding.

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I appreciate those who contact my office and hope you will continue to reach out when we can be of assistance.  The best way to contact me is via email at DelTWright@house.virginia.gov or by calling 434.696.3061. You can also send mail to PO Box 1323, Victoria, Virginia 23974. Follow me on Facebook: Delegate Tommy Wright.