DOJ to open investigation of admissions policies at California universities

A student walks near Royce Hall on the campus of UCLA. The school, along with Stanford University, UC Berkeley and and UC Irvine face a DOJ investigation of its admissions policies. Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images file

The Department of Justice has opened investigations into the admissions policies at Stanford University and three campuses in the University of California system — UC Berkeley, UCLA and UC Irvine.

Attorney General Pamela Bondi announced the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division will launch compliance review investigations into the admissions policies of the California universities. This move follows the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Students for Fair Admissions Inc. v. President & Fellow of Harvard Coll., which prohibited the use of DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) policies that rely on racial discrimination in student admissions.

Bondi emphasized on Thursday the DOJ is committed to ensuring compliance with the ruling, saying, “President Trump and I are dedicated to ending illegal discrimination and restoring merit-based opportunity across the country. Every student in America deserves to be judged solely based on their hard work, intellect and character, not the color of their skin.”

Many elite colleges and universities have faced criticism for implementing admissions practices that prioritize racial quotas over equality of opportunity. Critics argue these policies have discriminated against certain groups of applicants. The Biden administration, Bondi said, failed to address the issue and protect the civil rights of students.

Since taking office in January, President Donald Trump has attempted to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion programs that his administration says exclude white and Asian American students.

The administration has warned schools and colleges they could lose federal money over “race-based preferences” in admissions, hiring, scholarships and all aspects of campus life.

Acting Associate Attorney General Chad Mizelle also weighed in, saying, “The Department of Justice will put an end to a shameful system in which someone’s race matters more than their ability. Every college and university should know that illegal discrimination in admissions will be investigated and eliminated.”

The investigations into the California institutions are part of the DOJ’s broader effort to eliminate illegal DEI practices and ensure equal treatment for all students under the law. The department’s compliance reviews are expected to continue at universities and colleges nationwide.

The U.S. Department of Education recently said it was investigating 52 universities for alleged racial discrimination.

Most of those schools were told those investigations were because of a partnership with a nonprofit organization that aimed to help students of color get doctoral degrees.

Editor’s note: The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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