Trump administration investigating 3 medical schools over race in admissions process
Trump administration investigating 3 medical schools over race in admissions process
MARY KEKATOSFri, March 27, 2026 at 10:17 PM UTC
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Trump administration investigating 3 medical schools over race in admissions process
Three medical schools are being investigated by the Trump administration over how race is used during the admissions process, marking the federal government's latest effort to reshape higher education.
The Department of Justice informed The Ohio State University, Stanford University and the University of California, San Diego of the investigations on Wednesday, ordering them to turn over data including home ZIP codes, test scores and internal communications about diversity, equity and inclusion, according to The New York Times.
Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon announced the investigation in a post on X on Thursday, sharing the Times article and adding, "We did this yesterday. Among other things!"
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It's not clear why the three medical schools are under scrutiny from the administration. The Department of Justice did not immediately return ABC News' request for comment.
Ohio State spokesperson Ben Johnson told ABC News that the university "is fully compliant with all state and federal regulations and legal rulings regarding admissions. We've received the letter and will respond appropriately."
STOCK PHOTO/Getty Images - PHOTO: Students walking through the Ohio State University campus, in Columbus, Ohio.
"UC San Diego was notified Wednesday afternoon that the Department of Justice is commencing an investigation, and we are reviewing the notice," a university spokesperson told ABC News in a statement. "UC San Diego is committed to fair process in all of our programs and activities, including admissions, consistent with federal and state anti-discrimination laws."
Stanford University told ABC News it is reviewing the letter and "will respond appropriately. 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."
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On Wednesday, Dhillon posted a photo of her signing one of the letters with a sheet of paper on top, attempting to obscure the contents of the letter. "Launching a series of civil rights investigations. Another day in paradise!" Dhillon wrote on X.
This is not the first time the Trump administration has gone after institutions of higher education; however, medical schools have largely not been targeted.
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Last year, the White House accused Harvard University of allowing antisemitism to go unchecked on campus and of not ending diversity, equity and inclusion practices. This resulted at least 350 grants from the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation and elsewhere being canceled at Harvard Medical School, a faculty source told ABC News at the time.
Harvard said it had taken steps such as renaming the Office for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging to the Office of Community and Campus Life. Additionally, Harvard's president said the school is committed to making changes to create a "welcoming and supportive learning environment."
In February, the Justice Department filed a lawsuit against Harvard, accusing the school of withholding admissions data that the government says it needs to determine whether the university is discriminating on the basis of race.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images, FILE - PHOTO: In this March 12, 2019, file photo, people walk by Hoover Tower on the Stanford University campus in Stanford, Calif.
Representatives for Harvard University did not immediately respond to ABC News’ request for comment at the time. However, the unit has previously condemned the administration's actions against it as "unprecedented" and "retaliatory," claiming the administration "has an unlawful anti-Harvard policy," according to statements and arguments made in court.
Earlier this year, the Justice Department also joined a lawsuit accusing the David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles of allegedly using race in its admissions process.
UCLA has said tha it follows all anti-discrimination laws in its admissions process, according to previous new reports.
Source: “AOL Breaking”
