DOJ Investigates California Universities Over Race-Based Admissions Practices

The Department of Justice has initiated investigations into Stanford University, UCLA, UCI, and UC Berkeley for allegedly continuing to use race in admissions processes, defying a recent Supreme Court ruling against affirmative action. Attorney General Pam Bondi reaffirmed the commitment to merit-based opportunities, while advocates applauded the move as a means to ensure fairness.

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has begun investigations into four prominent universities in California, including Stanford University and the University of California campuses at Berkeley, Los Angeles (UCLA), and Irvine (UCI). These investigations stem from allegations that these institutions are continuing to use race as a criterion in their admissions processes, which would contradict the recent Supreme Court ruling that banned affirmative action in higher education.

In a statement, Attorney General Pam Bondi emphasized that the current administration, under President Trump, is dedicated to reinstating merit-based admissions across the nation. “Every student in America deserves to be judged solely based on their hard work, intellect, and character—not the color of their skin,” Bondi stated.

The Supreme Court's ruling in the case of Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard firmly rejected race-based admissions practices, prompting the DOJ to assert its demand for compliance by educational institutions. Acting Associate Attorney General Chad Mizelle remarked that colleges and universities would face scrutiny and consequences for any form of illegal discrimination in their admissions processes.

Advocates like Greg Burt, vice president of the California Family Council, welcomed the federal investigations, claiming that universities are perpetuating “a system of reverse discrimination.” Burt indicated that some of these institutions might be finding ways to bypass the law, suggesting that these inquiries could promote a return to a culture where merit and fairness are prioritized.

Burt remarked that rather than promoting genuine equality, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies often sow division among students based on race, leading to resentment instead of unity. With the Trump administration intensifying efforts to end race-based policies in educational settings, these investigations represent a significant step toward re-establishing merit-first admissions practices and serve as a caution to universities that may attempt to bypass legal mandates.