Colleges across the U.S. are closing or renaming diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) offices in response to federal directives and political pressure, with at least 181 institutions changing the structure or branding of DEI work since last January. Administrators often replace DEI with terms such as community, culture or belonging—moves critics say curtail institutional commitments to equity and narrow the mandate of those offices. The White House executive orders targeting 'wasteful' federal DEI programs and recent guidance from conservative officials have accelerated institutional action. Some universities and students are mounting legal and public challenges, arguing name changes and program cuts undermine enforcement of nondiscrimination commitments and, in some cases, violate free-speech protections on campus.