Justice Department calls three NSF diversity programs unconstitutional
New ruling bars programs said to discriminate by race and sex, six others can continue if modified
"The efforts of the National Science Foundation (NSF) to diversify U.S. science beyond its historical reliance on white men were dealt a blow last week after the Department of Justice (DOJ) ruled that three of its long-running programs were unconstitutional because they discriminate by race or sex and must be ended. At the same time, DOJ said four other NSF programs to strengthen the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) workforce pass legal muster and two more could be tweaked to avoid clashing with the ruling."
Must end: Louis Stokes Alliances, Alliances for Graduate Education and the Professoriate, Improving Undergraduate STEM Education (HSI).
Modified on August 25, 2026