Trump’s anti-DEI: Stanford, Cal, UCLA under review

The Trump administration has initiated investigations into the admissions policies at Stanford University as well as three campuses within the University of California system: UC Berkeley, UCLA, and UC Irvine, according to the Department of Justice. The inquiries aim to determine whether these institutions’ policies align with the 2023 U.S. Supreme Court verdict that abolished affirmative action in college admissions.
The directive for this investigation comes from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, who has tasked the department’s Civil Rights Division with examining these cases. After assuming office in January, President Donald Trump has focused on dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, which his administration claims disadvantage white and Asian American students. The administration has cautioned educational establishments about the potential consequences of “race-based preferences,” which could lead to the withdrawal of federal funding affecting admissions, hiring, scholarships, and other campus activities.
The recent actions follow an announcement from the U.S. Department of Education, which earlier this month stated it was probing 52 universities for alleged racial discrimination. A majority of these investigations arose following collaborations with a nonprofit aiming to support students of color in obtaining doctoral degrees.
In an official statement, Attorney General Bondi emphasized the administration’s stance: “President Trump and I are committed to eliminating illegal discrimination and reinstating merit-based opportunities nationwide. Every American student deserves evaluation based on their diligence, intellect, and character, independent of their skin color.”
Following the Supreme Court’s decision, Stanford University announced it had promptly revised its admissions procedures to comply with the law. “We remain focused on meeting our legal obligations,” the university declared, noting it had not been informed of the specifics behind the investigation. “We currently lack details about today’s announcement, but we anticipate gaining further insight into their concerns and are ready to address the department’s inquiries.”
The University of California was unable to provide an immediate comment.
Moreover, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has launched an investigation into a “major medical school in California,” suspecting discriminatory practices in admissions based on race. Although the school was not identified, the investigation is in response to information received by the Office for Civil Rights, with no further details disclosed.
In an additional move, the Trump administration has opened an inquiry into the California Department of Education, scrutinizing a law that prohibits districts from forcing teachers and staff to notify parents if a student changes their gender identity while at school.