• The U.S. Justice Department has initiated compliance reviews of Stanford University and three University of California campuses: Berkeley, UCLA, and Irvine.
• Attorney General Pam Bondi emphasized the commitment to merit-based admissions in accordance with the 2023 Supreme Court decision ending affirmative action.
• The investigations are part of a broader campaign against "illegal discrimination" and diversity programs, which the Trump administration claims disadvantage white and Asian American students.

The U.S. Department of Justice announced on Thursday that it is launching investigations into the admissions policies of Stanford University and three campuses within the University of California system—Berkeley, UCLA, and UC Irvine. The investigations aim to ensure these institutions comply with a Supreme Court ruling from 2023 that banned affirmative action policies in college admissions.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that the investigation is necessary to uphold merit-based opportunities across the nation, arguing that “every student in America deserves to be judged solely based on their hard work, intellect, and character, not the color of their skin,” as reported by CBS News.

The investigations come in the wake of declining minority admissions at elite colleges since affirmative action was struck down, with the Justice Department suggesting that institutions may have continued previously disallowed practices. The emphasis of the findings is noted in Los Angeles Times, which highlights the administration's broader campaign against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.

Stanford University responded by confirming its proactive measures to align with the Supreme Court's ruling, stating, "We continue to be committed to fulfilling our obligations under the law." However, the university expressed that it has not received specific details regarding the investigation, according to SFGate.

Similar sentiments were echoed by representatives from the University of California system, which has had extensive experience navigating affirmative action laws since the passage of Proposition 209 in 1996. The system remarked that it ceased utilizing race as a criterion in admissions and collects racial data only for statistical purposes.

The Justice Department's investigations align with a growing scrutiny of how universities manage admissions under the previous affirmative action frameworks, as echoed by recent statements from the administration affirming its zero-tolerance stance on perceived discrimination.

This latest action follows an earlier investigation by the U.S. Department of Education into 52 universities over alleged racial discrimination tied to partnerships with nonprofit organizations aimed at supporting underrepresented students in academia, further implicating the shifting dynamics of diversity efforts in higher education.

The ongoing investigations mark a critical development in the evolving landscape of college admissions and reflect the contentious debates surrounding race, merit, and representation in American education.