DOJ Accuses Yale Medical School of Racial Discrimination in Admissions

The U.S. Department of Justice has accused Yale University's medical school of illegally considering race in its admissions process, marking the second such allegation against a major institution this month. In a letter to Yale’s legal counsel, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon stated that an investigation revealed significantly higher admission rates for Black and Hispanic students compared to white or Asian counterparts, despite the latter having higher grade-point averages and standardized test scores. The DOJ cited data from the incoming classes of 2023 through 2025, noting that Black applicants had up to 29 times higher odds of receiving an interview than equally qualified Asian applicants. This action aligns with the Trump administration’s broader pressure on universities to eliminate race-based admissions following the 2023 Supreme Court ban on affirmative action. The department alleged that Yale violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and is seeking a voluntary resolution, threatening litigation if compliance is not achieved. Yale officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment. This case follows a similar notification sent to the University of California, Los Angeles, last week, indicating a intensified federal crackdown on diversity practices in higher education.