The U.S. Department of Education has launched investigations into five medical schools over their admissions practices, marking the latest action by the Trump administration against diversity, equity, and inclusion policies. The department’s Office for Civil Rights announced probes into the schools over allegations of racial discrimination, though officials did not provide specific details or evidence supporting the claims.
The investigations involve the medical schools at Dartmouth College, East Carolina University, St. Louis University, Western University of Health Sciences, and William Carey University. The Education Department said the reviews are connected to concerns over admissions policies that may consider race in ways the administration argues could violate federal civil rights protections.
The move is part of a broader effort by President Donald Trump’s administration to limit diversity initiatives in government, education, and private institutions. Trump has argued that programs designed to increase representation in schools and workplaces can undermine merit based selection and unfairly disadvantage certain groups. His administration has issued executive orders aimed at reducing the use of diversity focused policies.
The investigations come after the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision to restrict race conscious admissions practices at colleges and universities. The ruling, which involved Harvard University and the University of North Carolina, limited the ability of institutions to consider race as a factor in admissions decisions. Since then, federal agencies have increased scrutiny of universities and professional schools over their admissions policies.
Several of the medical schools involved have defended their practices. East Carolina University said it follows state and federal laws as well as court decisions and will respond to the federal review. Dartmouth College also expressed confidence that its admissions process complies with legal requirements and is based on fair evaluation standards.
The Department of Justice has also launched separate investigations into medical schools, including reviews of institutions such as Yale University, the University of California, Los Angeles, and the University of California, San Diego. Federal officials have accused some schools of favoring certain racial groups in admissions, while the universities have denied wrongdoing and said their selection processes are rigorous and focused on academic qualifications.
Supporters of the administration’s actions argue that admissions should be based strictly on individual achievement and that race based considerations can create unfair outcomes. Civil rights organizations, however, argue that diversity initiatives help address long standing inequalities and improve representation in fields such as medicine, where minority communities have historically been underrepresented.
The investigations represent another front in the ongoing national debate over the role of diversity policies in American education. As federal reviews continue, medical schools and universities across the country are facing increased pressure to reassess their admissions strategies while navigating legal, political, and social challenges.
