On March 14, 2025, the U.S. Education Department launched an investigation into NYU and several other institutions, scrutinizing its partnership with The Ph.D. Project. The inquiry, part of a broader Trump administration effort to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, alleged that NYU's graduate programs engaged in 'race-exclusionary practices' due to the program's eligibility criteria. NYU has not commented, and the investigation is widely seen in the context of politically motivated attacks on DEI efforts.

In response to Trump administration executive orders targeting DEI initiatives, NYU has maintained supportive measures such as its 'How We Engage Toolkit' and counseling services, while NYU Langone Health canceled gender-affirming care. This mixed reaction highlights both a commitment to upholding inclusive policies and a troubling compliance with rollback measures affecting marginalized communities.

NYU's profile data from OpenSecrets reveals that during the 2024 cycle the university directed $1,945,760 in political contributions and spent $680,000 on lobbying. Additionally, a significant share of its lobbyists come from previous government roles, evidencing a revolving door dynamic that raises concerns about institutional influence and possible conflicts of interest.

In response to political rhetoric aimed at curtailing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives and redefining civil rights protections, NYU reaffirmed its commitment to its DEI programs and announced plans to hire a Title VI coordinator following its recent settlement of an antisemitism lawsuit.

At a University Senate meeting two days after Trump's reelection, NYU administrators warned that the new administration’s policies could lead to increased visa restrictions on international students and disrupt international research partnerships.

During a University Senate meeting on November 2024, NYU leadership discussed potential operational changes in response to Donald Trump’s reelection. Topics included possible visa restrictions for international students, reductions in federal research funding, and adjustments to disciplinary policies. Despite these challenging forecasts, the administration reaffirmed its commitment to academic freedom, diversity, and global engagement.

Analysis of FEC data reveals that 92% of NYU employees’ campaign contributions between January 2023 and October 2024 were directed towards Democratic organizations. The contributions, made by faculty, staff, and administrators, underscore a strong community support for progressive political candidates and raise the profile of NYU’s engagement with anti-authoritarian politics.

NYU researchers are conducting a capstone project to map and analyze NYC’s procurement of surveillance technology. The project exposes opaque and unregulated spending processes and uncovers the role that such technology plays in enhancing discriminatory policing. The research aims to propose community-based governance reforms to increase transparency and accountability in tech procurement, thereby supporting progressive and anti-authoritarian principles.

NYU hosted a panel discussion titled 'Public/Private Partnerships in State Surveillance' that examined the involvement of state actors partnering with private entities in surveillance activities, addressing the legal and moral challenges posed by these collaborations and discussing Fourth Amendment issues.

A report by a coalition of NYU students and faculty called attention to labor violations at NYU's Abu Dhabi campus, noting that some construction workers faced delayed payments and harsh working conditions. Although NYU released its own compliance report claiming satisfactory labor practices, subsequent commissioned investigations confirmed that certain workers were not fully protected under fair labor standards, prompting promises of reimbursement.

NYU’s Coalition for Fair Labor released a report on December 2016 criticizing the new Supplier Code of Conduct, highlighting that it ignores key recommendations from an independent review regarding labor rights—including necessary oversight and proper standards for migrant workers during the Abu Dhabi campus construction. The report argues that the code, which replaces previous labor guidelines, fails to adopt critical measures such as independent compliance monitoring and adequate definitions for minimum wages and housing standards.

A report detailed widespread labor abuses during the construction of NYU’s Abu Dhabi campus, including forced labor conditions, mass deportations of striking workers, and a de facto exemption policy that left many workers unprotected. The report also highlighted problematic executive ties with state-backed contractors, raising concerns over NYU’s governance and ethical business practices.