Trump Admin. Cites Discrimination at UC Berkeley, Duke Admissions

The Trump administration's Department of Education announced on September 10, 2026, that it had found evidence of discrimination in the admissions processes of the University of California, Berkeley School of Law and Duke University School of Medicine. The department's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) concluded that both institutions engaged in unlawful discrimination based on race and national origin, specifically against white and Asian applicants. This finding stems from investigations initiated following complaints filed against the universities. The OCR's determination suggests that the admissions policies at these prominent institutions may have violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in programs receiving federal financial assistance.

At UC Berkeley School of Law, the OCR's investigation reportedly found that the admissions committee considered race as a factor in admissions decisions, which is prohibited under California's Proposition 209. Proposition 209, passed in 1996, banned the consideration of race, sex, or ethnicity in public employment, public education, and public contracting. The Trump administration's stance has been to strictly enforce existing laws against affirmative action policies that it views as discriminatory. The findings against UC Berkeley Law are part of a broader pattern of scrutiny applied to university admissions practices during the Trump administration, particularly concerning the use of race-conscious admissions.

Similarly, the investigation into Duke University School of Medicine concluded that its admissions process also involved unlawful discrimination. The OCR's report indicated that Duke's medical school admissions committee also considered race and national origin in a manner that disadvantaged white and Asian applicants. This finding aligns with the administration's broader legal and policy objectives to challenge affirmative action in higher education. The Department of Justice, under the Trump administration, had previously signaled its intent to scrutinize and challenge race-based admissions policies, viewing them as a form of reverse discrimination.

These accusations carry significant implications for the universities involved and for the broader landscape of higher education admissions in the United States. Both UC Berkeley and Duke University are highly selective institutions that receive federal funding, making them subject to federal civil rights laws. The findings by the OCR could lead to potential legal challenges, consent decrees, or mandated changes in admissions policies. The Trump administration's actions reflect a consistent policy direction aimed at dismantling affirmative action programs, arguing that they lead to unfair outcomes for certain demographic groups. The investigations and subsequent findings by the OCR underscore the contentious nature of affirmative action and its legal standing in university admissions.