Federal and congressional scrutiny of campus diversity programs and scholarships is reshaping admissions debates. Higher‑education experts say the Trump administration’s ban on considering diversity, equity and inclusion in admissions could have unintended distributional effects; several selective colleges historically used gender as one factor to preserve campus balance and may now retool policies as DEI guidance tightens. Meanwhile, House Republicans held a hearing accusing the Truman Scholarship of liberal bias, amplifying partisan pressure on merit and fellowship programs. The combined actions are ratcheting up compliance questions for admissions offices and scholarship foundations, and prompting universities to reassess outreach and demographic strategies.