Mun Choi, the Chancellor of the University of Missouri, has taken responsibility for the decision to cut dedicated funding for five minority student organizations, which previously received about $140,000 in the last fiscal year. This change comes after a July memo from the Department of Justice (DOJ) regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, which prompted the university to seek external legal advice. Choi stated that the university needed to protect itself from potential investigations, similar to the federal scrutiny faced by Columbia University, which resulted in a $400 million funding freeze. The affected groups—the Legion of Black Collegians, Asian American Association, Association of Latin American Students, Queer Liberation Front, and Front Four—will now be classified as recognized student organizations eligible for a maximum of $3,000 per year. Choi emphasized that the university would seek ways to support these organizations while remaining compliant with federal regulations. Following the announcement, approximately 400 students attended a town hall meeting to discuss alternative funding models and the implications of the cuts. The university has been reducing its DEI initiatives since 2015, responding to political pressures and proposed legislation.