The United States Department of Justice's civil rights division has initiated investigations into 15 medical schools across the country over allegations of potential race discrimination in their admissions processes. The announcement, made on Thursday, follows the DoJ's recent findings that the medical schools at the University of California, Los Angeles and Yale University had illegally used race as a factor in their admissions decisions.
DoJ's Stance on Admissions Practices
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K Dhillon, who leads the DoJ's civil rights division, stated on Thursday: "Many of America's top medical schools appear more concerned about the demographics of their incoming classes than training students to succeed in the profession." She added: "Under this justice department, we will continue to protect American students from discriminatory and illegal preferences in admissions – especially in professions as critical as medicine, where quality of training should be the top priority."
According to the DoJ, the investigations will examine whether the schools – all of which receive federal funding – comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, colour, or national origin. The DoJ's civil rights division emphasised that it has not reached any conclusions regarding the investigations at this stage.
Universities Under Scrutiny
The DoJ has not publicly identified which schools are being investigated. However, following the findings against UCLA and Yale last month, both universities have defended their admissions records. UCLA's David Geffen School of Medicine stated that its admissions process is "based on merit" and that it is committed to complying with all state and federal laws. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Yale said: "The students admitted to Yale School of Medicine demonstrate exceptional academic achievement and personal commitment; its program of medical education encourages curiosity and critical thinking, and its graduates go on to become leaders in clinical care, research, and public service."
Broader Context of Affirmative Action
Since retaking office in January, President Donald Trump has increased scrutiny of college admissions, alleging that universities are finding ways to factor race into enrollment decisions despite the Supreme Court's 2023 ruling prohibiting affirmative action. While the court's decision prohibits the direct use of race in admissions, it allows schools to holistically evaluate applicants' personal experiences and background. The Trump administration has accused universities of using essays and other application materials as indirect ways to factor race into admissions decisions, a process that conservatives regard as illegal discrimination.
In March, the DoJ launched investigations into admissions practices at Stanford University, Ohio State University, and the University of California, San Diego, focusing on whether medical school applicants were subjected to race-based discrimination. Additionally, Trump signed an executive action that forces higher education institutions to provide data proving that they are not using race to assess admissions. In March, 17 Democratic state attorneys general sued to block the executive action, and a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction in April that halted the White House's efforts to collect the data.
Broader Campaign Against Higher Education
The DoJ's investigations come as part of a broader campaign by the Trump administration to target higher education across the United States. Over the last year, the Trump administration has cracked down on universities over various issues, including campus speech and student activism – particularly Palestinian liberation movements – as well as diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, transgender rights, and other initiatives that Trump and his allies have characterised as promoting "woke" ideologies. Trump's administration has argued that such policies do "not reflect the values of the vast majority of the American public" and has moved to restrict them through various federal actions, prompting widespread public backlash.
