DOJ opens 15 new investigations into medical schools’ admissions

The Department of Justice (DOJ) launched civil rights investigations into 15 medical schools on Thursday, accusing them of racial discrimination in admissions. These probes follow a Supreme Court decision that overturned decades of affirmative action policies in higher education. The Civil Rights Division will assess whether the schools, which receive millions in federal funding, comply with the ruling and avoid race-based preferences. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon stated that the DOJ will protect students from discriminatory admissions practices, particularly in medicine, where training quality should be the priority. The investigations stem from concerns that some schools favor Black and Hispanic applicants over white or Asian ones with comparable test scores, as seen in a prior probe into Yale University’s medical school. The DOJ did not name the 15 schools under investigation and has not yet drawn conclusions. The move aligns with broader efforts to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion practices in higher education admissions. The investigations mark an expansion of the Trump administration’s push to reshape admissions policies at elite institutions.