The Trump administration opened a federal investigation into Stanford’s admissions policies, citing concerns over compliance with the Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling that struck down affirmative action, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Thursday. The probe extends to three campuses within the University of California system — UC Berkeley, UCLA and UC Irvine — and marks an escalation in the administration’s efforts to end diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies in higher education.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has directed the department’s Civil Rights Division to investigate whether policies at Stanford and the University of California schools comply with the Supreme Court ruling, the department wrote in a 248-word statement. 

The DOJ framed the investigation as a “compliance review,” a legal mechanism aimed at ensuring institutions adhere to federal mandates rather than responding to specific allegations of misconduct. The move aligns with the heightened scrutiny of universities’ admissions practices in the last two years.

“Following the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in SFFA v. Harvard/UNC, the University immediately engaged in a comprehensive and rigorous review to ensure compliance in our admissions processes,” University spokesperson Luisa Rapport wrote in an email to The Daily. 

Stanford experienced a decline in the enrollment of underrepresented minority students following the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision to ban affirmative action in college admissions. In the Class of 2028, Black enrollment dropped from 9% to 5%, and Hispanic or Latino enrollment decreased from 17% to 15%. 

Stanford has faced federal scrutiny over its admissions policies before. In the 1990s, the DOJ conducted similar reviews to ensure compliance with 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.

However, this probe stands apart. Unlike previous executive orders or informal policy guidances, Bondi has ordered a formal legal investigation with potential consequences for federal funding.

Since taking office in January, President Donald Trump has attempted to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, which his administration says exclude white and Asian American students.

In February, the Department of Education issued a “Dear Colleague” letter warning federally funded educational institutions, including Stanford, to cease race-conscious practices in admissions, financial aid, hiring and campus life or risk losing funds within two weeks. Stanford’s Faculty Senate discussed the directive, with University president Jonathan Levin ’94 saying that the letter adopts a “quite broad interpretation” of the Supreme Court’s ruling, potentially affecting various university policies and practices. 

Stanford has made subtle adjustments in response to federal pressure. In January, University leaders said DEI programs would require internal review. By February, the University had quietly removed references to DEI from some institutional web pages.

Rapport reiterated Stanford’s compliance with the law in her email to The Daily: “We continue to be committed to fulfilling our obligations under the law, and we will respond to the department’s questions as it conducts this process.” 

Stanford’s admissions office did not respond to a request for comment on whether it received specific requests from the DOJ. The DOJ has not provided a timeline for the 2025 investigation’s findings or potential actions.