WASHINGTON — Federal authorities have launched probes examining racial considerations in admissions processes at three major medical schools, escalating the Trump administration’s broader campaign targeting higher education institutions.
The Justice Department initiated these investigations Wednesday, focusing on potential discriminatory practices at medical programs at Stanford University, Ohio State University, and the University of California, San Diego. Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon made the announcement via social media.
This latest move represents part of President Trump’s intensified examination of universities, which he claims are dominated by liberal ideology. His administration has previously scrutinized undergraduate admissions at competitive institutions, requiring them to provide documentation proving compliance with a 2023 Supreme Court ruling that prohibited affirmative action in college admissions.
The New York Times first reported these investigations.
In correspondence to Ohio State, Dhillon requested all documentation concerning “the use or lack of use of race” when evaluating candidates. The letter also demanded comprehensive applicant data and any internal assessments examining admission patterns or results based on racial demographics.
A detailed five-page document outlines the specific records being requested by federal officials. The materials include standardized testing results, racial and ethnic information either collected or assumed, and admission decisions for every candidate since the incoming class beginning in 2019.
Ohio State representative Benjamin Johnson stated the institution follows all state and federal guidelines and court decisions regarding admissions procedures. “We’ve received the attached letter and will respond appropriately,” Johnson commented.
UC San Diego issued a statement saying it was examining the Justice Department’s notice. “UC San Diego is committed to fair processes in all of our programs and activities, including admissions, consistent with federal and state anti-discrimination laws,” the university stated in writing.
Stanford School of Medicine representative Cecilia Arradaza confirmed they were reviewing the correspondence. “Stanford School of Medicine prohibits unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law,” Arradaza said in a prepared statement.
The reasoning behind selecting these particular three medical institutions remains unclear.
The Supreme Court decision eliminating affirmative action in admissions specified that institutions could still evaluate how racial experiences have influenced students’ lives when applicants discuss such matters in application essays. Trump has expressed concern that colleges might be using personal narratives and alternative methods to factor in race, which he considers unlawful discrimination.
This month, a group of 17 Democratic state attorneys general filed legal action challenging a Trump administration requirement forcing higher education institutions to provide data proving they don’t factor race into admissions decisions. A federal judge in Massachusetts is currently considering their petition to halt this requirement.
