• The Trump administration has frozen $108 million in federal funding to Duke University.
• The freeze is part of a broader investigation into alleged race-based discrimination in admissions and hiring practices.
• Education Secretary Linda McMahon and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. cited concerns over discrimination in their joint letter to Duke.
• Duke is called to form a "Merit and Civil Rights Committee" and ensure compliance with federal standards.
• This investigation comes amidst heightened scrutiny of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs across U.S. universities.

The Trump administration has launched an investigation into Duke University and the Duke Law Journal over allegations of using race-based discrimination in their selection processes. The federal probe is focused on the claim that Duke's practices may violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits racial discrimination in federally funded educational institutions, according to AA and India Times.

The investigation centers around claims that Duke may give preferential treatment to candidates from minority communities in its law journal's editorial selection process and other areas such as hiring and admissions. A joint letter from Education Secretary Linda McMahon and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. called for reforms, highlighting that "if Duke illegally gives preferential treatment... it is an affront to civil rights law," as reported by The Hill and Dawn.

The Trump administration's scrutiny of Duke coincides with the announcement of a massive $108 million funding freeze affecting the Duke University School of Medicine and broader healthcare operations. This suspension arises amidst allegations of systemic racial discrimination and serves as part of a wider crackdown on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs across U.S. universities, according to India Times and India Times.

The administration has directed Duke to create a "Merit and Civil Rights Committee" with delegated authority from the university's Board of Trustees to address these allegations and facilitate a resolution. If Duke fails to show compliance, the funding could be permanently rescinded, indicating severe implications for the institution's financial health, especially considering nearly 60% of its annual research funding relies on federal sources, as highlighted by The Hill and AA.