Washington, D.C. – The Trump administration has initiated investigations into the admissions policies at Stanford University and three University of California campuses, including UC Berkeley, UCLA, and UC Irvine, the Department of Justice revealed on Thursday. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has instructed the department’s Civil Rights Division to examine whether the schools’ policies align with a 2023 U.S. Supreme Court decision that ended affirmative action in college admissions, according to a statement from the department.
President Donald Trump, since assuming office in January, has made efforts to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion programs that are perceived to disadvantage white and Asian American students. The administration has cautioned schools and colleges about the potential loss of federal funding due to “race-based preferences” in admissions, hiring, scholarships, and all aspects of campus life.
The recent actions follow the U.S. Department of Education’s announcement that it was investigating 52 universities for alleged racial discrimination earlier this month. Most of these schools were informed that the investigations were prompted by a partnership with a nonprofit organization aimed at assisting students of color in obtaining doctoral degrees.
Attorney General Bondi emphasized, “President Trump and I are devoted to eliminating illegal discrimination and reinstating merit-based opportunities across the nation. Every American student deserves to be evaluated based on their hard work, intellect, and character, rather than the color of their skin.”
Stanford University stated in response to the Supreme Court ruling that it immediately took steps to ensure compliance with the law in its admissions process. The university remains committed to fulfilling its legal obligations and awaits further details regarding the investigation. However, the University of California has not yet commented on the matter.
In a separate development, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services disclosed that it is investigating “a major medical school in California” for alleged racial discrimination in admissions. The initiative, prompted by information received by the Office for Civil Rights, did not disclose the name of the school or provide specific details.
Furthermore, the Trump administration commenced an investigation into the California Department of Education on Thursday. The focus is on a law that prohibits districts from mandating teachers and staff to notify parents if a student changes their gender identity at school.