MIT Disbands Central DEI Office Amid Federal Scrutiny

CAMBRIDGE, MA — May 29, 2025 The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has announced the closure of its central diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) office, the Institute Community and Equity Office (ICEO), as part of a strategic shift towards localized community-building efforts.

President Sally Kornbluth stated that while MIT remains committed to inclusive excellence, feedback from an internal review indicated a preference for DEI initiatives to be managed at the departmental level rather than through a centralized office. Consequently, the ICEO's programs will be redistributed: the Department Support Program and the MLK Visiting Professors and Scholars Program will move to the Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty; student-focused initiatives like Random Acts of Kindness Week will transition to the Division of Student Life; and the Community Learning Initiative will be overseen by Human Resources.

This decision comes amid increased federal scrutiny of DEI programs in higher education. In March, the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights initiated investigations into MIT and other institutions over alleged discriminatory practices in their DEI initiatives.

Additionally, MIT has faced financial repercussions, reporting up to $35 million in losses due to cuts in federal research grants, leading to an 8% reduction in graduate admissions for the 2025-26 academic year.

While the central DEI office is being disbanded, MIT plans to establish a new Standing Institute Committee to promote connectivity and collaborative problem-solving across departments, ensuring that the institution's commitment to diversity and inclusion continues in a decentralized forma

*Sources:
*https://president.mit.edu/writing-speeches/how-we-support-our-community?utm_source=chatgpt.com *https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/29/us/mit-shuttering-dei-office-hnk