Justice Department investigates Stanford, UC campuses over race-based admissions

The U.S. Justice Department has initiated investigations into Stanford University and three University of California campuses—UC Berkeley, UCLA, and UC Irvine—over potential violations of the Supreme Court's 2023 ruling that bans race-based considerations in college admissions. Attorney General Pam Bondi emphasized the administration's commitment to ending illegal discrimination and restoring merit-based opportunities. The investigations are part of a broader effort to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, which the Trump administration argues have discriminated against white and Asian American students. Stanford stated it has already taken steps to comply with the ruling and looks forward to addressing the department's inquiries. The investigations follow similar probes by the Department of Education into numerous universities for alleged racial discrimination practices. Critics argue that the investigations may reflect a politicization of education policy under the current administration.