The Justice Department has accused Duke University’s law school of unlawfully considering race in admissions. This charge is part of ongoing actions by the Trump administration targeting higher education institutions. The department stated in a findings letter that Duke’s declared race-neutral admissions policies mask the use of race-related factors, such as personal essays and first-generation college status.

An emailed statement from Duke University indicated that the school is reviewing the letter and is committed to following legal requirements in alignment with its academic mission.

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon from the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division expressed that, even with good intentions, the use of diversity essay questions to determine favorable races remains illegal under anti-discrimination laws.

Since a 2023 Supreme Court ruling, affirmative action in college admissions is prohibited. However, the ruling allows for consideration of applicants’ backgrounds in a broader context. Despite this, President Trump argued that colleges maintain racial diversity through indirect methods, which conservatives consider illegal.

The Justice Department found that, compared to white or Asian applicants with similar academic credentials, Black or Latino applicants had a higher likelihood of being admitted. It also highlighted that the median test scores for white and Asian applicants rejected in 2024 and 2025 exceeded those of admitted Black applicants.

Investigations similar to that of Duke Law are underway at other institutions, including UCLA and Yale University’s medical schools. Previously, the Trump administration demanded that selective undergraduate institutions gather data to prove compliance with the Supreme Court’s directive.

The department is currently seeking a settlement with Duke University concerning these findings.