On 19th of August, the US Justice Department accused Yale University’s School of Medicine of discriminating against white and Asian applicants in its admission process. The department stated that an investigation revealed practices that violate federal law, claiming that internal documents show intentional selection of candidates based on their race. According to US authorities, black and Hispanic students have a significantly higher chance of admission compared to white or Asian students with similar test scores.
Yale University responded by expressing confidence in its admission process. This attack is part of a larger campaign led by Donald Trump against American universities, accusing them of promoting overly progressive diversity and inclusion policies. Since returning to the White House in January 2025, Trump has intensified efforts against higher education institutions, including using federal funding as leverage.
The US Justice Department specifically criticized Yale for not properly implementing a historic decision made by the US Supreme Court in 2023, which deemed affirmative action policies illegal. Despite this decision, the department claims that Yale continued to consider the ethnic background of applicants. Before pursuing legal action, the Justice Department aims to reach an amicable settlement to ensure compliance with the law.
