Trump Administration Challenges Reparations Efforts Amidst Growing Activism

N’nanba (Robin Rue Simmons) has dedicated years to addressing the lingering damage of slavery in the United States. In Evanston, Illinois, she helped establish a $25,000 housing grant program for Black residents whose families were impacted by discriminatory housing policies. Now, Simmons is working to expand what was the nation's first municipal reparations program to over 100 communities nationwide.

This push for reparations faces opposition from the Trump administration, which has campaigned against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and sought to limit federal support for race-based initiatives. These federal actions have prompted some institutions to reevaluate or scale back their reparations work.

Globally, there is a renewed focus on the legacy of slavery. In March, the U.N. General Assembly passed a resolution labeling the trans-Atlantic slave trade a "gravest crime against humanity" and calling for reparations. Over 120 countries supported the resolution, with only Argentina, Israel, and the U.S. voting against it. Many European nations abstained.

"Under this administration, of course, there are many barriers to achieving that, but we still stand on federal redress as our collective north star," Simmons, chair of Evanston’s Reparations Committee and former city councilwoman, told The Associated Press.

For over 350 years, the trans-Atlantic slave trade forcibly transported an estimated 12.5 million Africans, with about 1.8 million dying during the journey. Approximately 388,000 enslaved individuals were brought to what is now the U.S., where chattel slavery persisted until 1865. This system deprived generations of Black Americans of their freedom and the economic benefits of their labor. Subsequent Jim Crow laws, discrimination, and systemic racism have contributed to a significant wealth gap that persists today between Black and white families.

Discussions around reparations, from the unfulfilled promise of "40 acres and a mule" to modern proposals, are entering a period of political uncertainty. William Darity, a scholar who co-authored a book on reparations, noted that while presidential support for comprehensive reparations has been historically absent, President Trump has spoken about reparations with hostility. Trump stated in a September speech that the country lacks the funds for reparations and that calls for them come from those who "hate our country."

Sociologist Marcus Anthony Hunter of UCLA views reparations as an act of atonement for the crime of chattel slavery, regardless of whether programs involve direct cash payments, housing grants, or scholarships. He emphasizes that these initiatives, even if modest in monetary value, serve as crucial recognition, acknowledgment, responsibility, and remedy.

The Trump administration has entered legal challenges against reparations efforts, including intervening in the Evanston program. The Justice Department has sought to stop the city’s program, alleging it violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment and the Fair Housing Act. A Justice Department spokesperson stated that "race-based government benefit programs are both unconstitutional and often violate federal civil rights laws."

Last year, the Justice Department issued a warning letter to leaders in Asheville and Buncombe County, North Carolina, who were considering similar programs. The department maintains that entities implementing such programs are acting in violation of federal law.

Institutions of higher education have also seen a slowdown in new reparations-related initiatives. Georgetown University continues to offer admission consideration for descendants of enslaved people linked to the campus's past, an effort that has persisted despite broader federal crackdowns on DEI initiatives. However, Richard Cellini, who led a Harvard University project to identify descendants of those enslaved by past Harvard leaders, reported that new efforts have stalled. He noted a reluctance to discuss or act on reparations, with some institutions halting related projects.

American Ancestors continues research related to Harvard's past, but the university has not yet provided redress to identified living descendants. Virginia universities are providing scholarships to descendants as mandated by a 2021 state law, but few new scholarship programs have emerged since early 2025. Historian Kirt von Daacke suggested that institutions may be hesitant to jeopardize federal research funding.

The Georgetown initiative focuses on descendants of individuals sold by the university's Jesuit priests. Juan Woolfolk, a recipient of a $10,000 scholarship through a descendant foundation, called it a "tremendous opportunity," especially given current challenges to accurately presenting national history.

The Virginia Theological Seminary makes annual cash payments to descendants of individuals who labored on its campus during slavery and the Jim Crow eras. Funded by an endowment that has grown to $2.8 million, these payments vary based on lineage and are perpetual. A seminary spokeswoman stated they believe they are the only U.S. educational institution making such unconditional annual cash reparations payments.

Ebonee Davis-Hayes, director of reparations, highlighted the "moral repair, the healing aspect" as being as significant as the monetary component.

In Evanston, Joe Martin, a flight attendant and recipient of the housing grant, expressed surprise and appreciation for the program. He reflected on the nation's tendency to overlook the contributions and suffering of Black Americans, noting the irony that a legitimate program designed to address historical injustices is facing government opposition.

"We all know the history, 40 acres and a mule didn’t go down the way it was supposed to,” he said, contrasting that with the current situation where "the government’s like, naw."