Todd Wolfson declares unions are essential to combat Trump’s higher education agenda

In a significant political move, President-elect Donald Trump nominated Harmeet Dhillon for the position of Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights on December 9, 2024. Dhillon, a California attorney with a conservative track record, has championed various civil liberties cases, including fighting against perceived discrimination by corporations implementing 'woke' policies. During her legal career, she has represented clients in high-profile cases involving free speech issues, such as the cancellation of a speaking event at UC Berkeley and litigation against Google over their diversity policies. Her nomination is seen as aligning with Trump's broader agenda, which emphasizes implementing stringent immigration policies and reducing federal oversight in education, threatening to dissolve the Department of Education, and focusing on combating what many on the right describe as 'cancel culture' at universities. Experts anticipate that her potential influence in the civil rights division may lead to investigations and actions against educational and corporate institutions perceived to infringe on conservative values. However, Dhillon's approach has raised concerns among education advocates and labor unions. Her legal history includes challenges against public health orders during the COVID-19 pandemic, which critics argue undermined public health efforts. Moreover, Trump's administration is speculated to prioritize policies that could roll back gains made by organized labor and civil rights protections established to counter systemic inequalities. As the incoming administration prepares to take office, stakeholders across various sectors, including higher education and labor, are gearing up for potential changes in policy that could reshape the landscape of civil rights and educational equity in the United States.