The Trump administration announced it is expanding its scrutiny of top-tier universities, launching investigations into admissions practices at several of California’s most prestigious schools. The move intensifies the administration’s broader crackdown on alleged discrimination in higher education.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi revealed that probes will target private Stanford University, along with three leading University of California campuses—Berkeley, UCLA, and UC Irvine. The investigations aim to determine whether admissions policies unfairly favor certain racial or ethnic groups.
“President Trump and I are committed to eliminating illegal discrimination and ensuring merit-based fairness nationwide,” Bondi stated. “Students should be evaluated on their abilities, effort, and character—not their race.”
UC officials pushed back, clarifying that race has not factored into admissions since California voters banned affirmative action in 1996. A spokesperson noted that while demographic data is collected for statistical analysis, it is “not shared with admissions reviewers.”
Stanford also defended its policies, saying it adjusted its admissions process after the Supreme Court struck down race-conscious affirmative action in 2023.
The investigations come as elite universities face mounting pressure from conservatives, who argue that diversity-focused policies disadvantage qualified applicants. The Trump administration has recently taken aggressive steps against institutions it accuses of fostering bias, including slashing $400 million in funding from Columbia University over claims it failed to protect Jewish students during pro-Palestinian protests.
Critics allege these actions are part of a wider effort to suppress dissent on campuses and rein in left-leaning academia. Meanwhile, several students across the country now face deportation, fueling accusations of a politically motivated campaign against university activism.
As tensions escalate, the battle over fairness, free speech, and institutional control in higher education shows no signs of slowing.