Federal Updates: DOGE Review Panel & DEI Language Guidance for HBCUs in Phase II Proposals

In recent conversations with federal stakeholders and agency advisors, it was confirmed that the U.S. Department of Education has established a dedicated DOGE (Division of Opportunity and Grant Equity) review team to evaluate all Phase II submissions from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). This development signals heightened scrutiny and evolving expectations around accountability, fiscal alignment, and inclusive practice in federally funded initiatives.

What This Means for HBCUs

The formation of this review team represents a formal push for institutional proposals to clearly demonstrate impact, fiscal integrity, and alignment with federal values. As you finalize your proposal, be mindful of the following:

✅ Clarify Your Outcomes

Ensure all goals and outcomes are measurable and backed by data-driven metrics. Avoid vague generalizations.

✅ Align Budget with Mission

Establish a clear connection between your abstract, proposed budget, and your institutional mission and strategic plan.

✅ Review Your Language for Compliance

Although HBCUs are recognized as institutions committed to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, the National Science Foundation and other federal agencies have released updated standards for language that may be perceived as biased, polarizing, or lacking neutrality. To help your proposal avoid risk of rejection or defunding, we’ve included the NSF 2025 Flagged DEI-A Word List below.

This list includes terms that, while historically rooted in equity work, may now trigger concerns about objectivity or politicization. Proposals should aim for inclusive intent while adhering to updated agency guidelines on terminology.

NSF 2025 Flagged DEI-A Word List

• Accessibility

• Activism

• Activists

• Advocacy

• Advocate

• Advocates

• Barrier

• Barriers

• Biased

• Biased Toward

• Biases

• Biases Towards

• Bias

• BIPOC

• Black And Latinx

• Community Diversity

• Community Equity

• Cultural Differences

• Cultural Heritage

• Culturally Responsive

• Disabilities

• Disability

• Discriminated

• Discrimination

• Discriminatory

• Diverse Backgrounds

• Diverse Communities

• Diverse Community

• Diverse Group

• Diverse Groups

• Diversified

• Diversify

• Diversifying

• Diversity

• Diversity And Inclusion

• Diversity Equity

• Enhance The Diversity

• Enhancing Diversity

• Equal Opportunity

• Equality

• Equitable

• Equity

• Ethnicity

• Excluded

• Female

• Females

• Fostering Inclusivity

• Gender

• Gender Diversity

• Genders

• Hate Speech

• Hispanic Minority

• Historically

• Implicit Bias

• Implicit Biases

• Inclusion

• Inclusive

• Inclusiveness

• Inclusivity

• Increase Diversity

• Increase The Diversity

• Indigenous Community

• Inequalities

• Inequality

• Inequitable

• Inequities

• Institutional

• LGBT

• LGBTQIA+

• Male-Dominated

• Marginalize

• Marginalized

• Minorities

• Minority

• Multicultural

• Polarization

• Political

• Prejudice

• Privileges

• Promoting Diversity

• Race And Ethnicity

• Racial

• Racial Diversity

• Racial Inequality

• Racial Justice

• Racially

• Racism

• Sense Of Belonging

• Sexual Preferences

• Social Justice

• Sociocultural

• Socioeconomic

• Status

• Stereotypes

• Systemic

• Trauma

• Under Appreciated

• Under Represented

• Under Served

• Underrepresentation

• Underrepresented

• Underserved

• Undervalued

• Victim

• Women

• Women And Underrepresented

Pending Guidance: HBGI Application Process

At this time, there is no updated guidance available regarding the Historically Black Graduate Institutions (HBGI) application process. It remains under review by the agency. HBCU Cares will continue to monitor developments and provide timely updates.

We encourage all member institutions to take proactive steps to ensure their submissions are strategically aligned with updated federal expectations—particularly in the areas of fiscal transparency, institutional alignment, and proposal language.

HBCU Cares remains committed to supporting our community of institutions in navigating these federal shifts. If your team would like assistance with peer review or proposal development, please don’t hesitate to reach out.Together, we rise—and stay ready.

With Cares Pride,

HBCU CARES