The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has formally accused Duke University School of Law of violating federal law by systematically considering race in its admissions process, marking the latest escalation in the Trump administration’s crackdown on diversity policies in higher education .
According to the DOJ, the law school’s admissions practices during the 2023–2025 admissions cycles demonstrated a clear pattern of racial preference . The department alleged that Black and Hispanic applicants were “much more likely” to be admitted than white or Asian applicants with similar academic qualifications, in what it described as an unlawful emphasis on racial diversity .
The investigation, announced on August 6, 2026, follows earlier federal actions against Duke. In July 2025, the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services jointly launched a separate probe into the university and its Duke Law Journal, citing concerns about racial preferences in hiring, admissions, and scholarship decisions . Federal officials warned at the time that if violations were confirmed, Duke could face the loss of federal funding .
The DOJ stated that it is now seeking a voluntary resolution agreement with the university to address the violations . The case is part of a broader federal campaign targeting elite institutions, following similar actions against Harvard University and Yale University’s medical school on grounds of racial discrimination in admissions .
The Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard and the University of North Carolina effectively barred the use of race-conscious admissions policies in higher education . The DOJ’s case against Duke Law School argues that the university’s practices violate this precedent and the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination in federally funded programs .
In response to the allegations, Duke University stated it “is committed to complying with the law and will continue to do so in a manner consistent with our academic mission,” adding that it is reviewing the DOJ’s letter . The university has not yet indicated whether it will accept a voluntary resolution agreement or contest the charges.
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