The investigations highlight the ongoing tension over affirmative action policies in higher education and the Trump administration’s push for merit-based admissions.
**DOJ Investigates California Universities Amid Affirmative Action Controversy**
**DOJ Investigates California Universities Amid Affirmative Action Controversy**
The Department of Justice is probing four major California universities for allegedly ignoring a Supreme Court ruling against race-based admissions.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has initiated investigations into four esteemed California universities: Stanford University and the University of California campuses at Berkeley, Los Angeles (UCLA), and Irvine (UCI). This action stems from claims that these institutions have continued to consider race in their admissions processes, seemingly disregarding the Supreme Court's 2023 ruling that abolished affirmative action in higher education.
Attorney General Pam Bondi emphasized the commitment of the Trump administration to enforce merit-based admissions across the nation. “President Trump and I are dedicated to ending illegal discrimination and restoring merit-based opportunity across the country,” Bondi stated. “Every student in America deserves to be judged solely based on their hard work, intellect, and character—not the color of their skin.”
The Supreme Court's landmark decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard clearly prohibited race-based admissions, and the DOJ insists that compliance with this ruling is mandatory. Acting Associate Attorney General Chad Mizelle noted, “Every college and university should know that illegal discrimination in admissions will be investigated and eliminated.”
Greg Burt, vice president of the California Family Council, welcomed the federal investigations, accusing universities of perpetuating a form of “reverse discrimination.” He raised concerns that some institutions have found loopholes to maintain race considerations in admissions. Burt suggested that these inquiries could help promote a culture of fairness and merit at academic institutions.
“Instead of fostering genuine equality,” Burt remarked, “DEI policies tend to divide students along racial lines and foster resentment rather than unity.” With the Trump administration intensifying its crackdown on race-based admissions practices, these investigations represent a pronounced shift toward merit-first policies and serve as a stern warning to any university attempting to sidestep the law.
Attorney General Pam Bondi emphasized the commitment of the Trump administration to enforce merit-based admissions across the nation. “President Trump and I are dedicated to ending illegal discrimination and restoring merit-based opportunity across the country,” Bondi stated. “Every student in America deserves to be judged solely based on their hard work, intellect, and character—not the color of their skin.”
The Supreme Court's landmark decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard clearly prohibited race-based admissions, and the DOJ insists that compliance with this ruling is mandatory. Acting Associate Attorney General Chad Mizelle noted, “Every college and university should know that illegal discrimination in admissions will be investigated and eliminated.”
Greg Burt, vice president of the California Family Council, welcomed the federal investigations, accusing universities of perpetuating a form of “reverse discrimination.” He raised concerns that some institutions have found loopholes to maintain race considerations in admissions. Burt suggested that these inquiries could help promote a culture of fairness and merit at academic institutions.
“Instead of fostering genuine equality,” Burt remarked, “DEI policies tend to divide students along racial lines and foster resentment rather than unity.” With the Trump administration intensifying its crackdown on race-based admissions practices, these investigations represent a pronounced shift toward merit-first policies and serve as a stern warning to any university attempting to sidestep the law.
