The Justice Department found Wednesday that the medical school at the University of California, Los Angeles, illegally considered race in admissions as the Trump administration ramps up scrutiny of colleges' processes for selecting students. The finding escalates the ongoing standoff between the administration and UCLA, which has also focused on allegations of antisemitic harassment at the university's main campus.
Affirmative action in college admissions has been illegal since a 2023 Supreme Court ruling forbade it. That ruling said colleges could continue to assess how applicants' backgrounds might speak to broader characteristics, but Trump has accused colleges of using personal statements and other proxies to consider race in admissions, which conservatives argue constitutes illegal discrimination. UCLA's medical school did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment on the findings.
What the Left Is Saying
Civil rights advocates say they are concerned about the administration's approach, arguing that it could undermine decades of progress toward diversifying the medical profession. A coalition of 17 Democratic state attorneys general filed a lawsuit in March challenging the Trump administration's policy requiring higher education institutions to collect data showing they are not considering race in admissions. Critics argue this creates a chilling effect and places undue burden on institutions attempting to comply with complex legal requirements.
Proponents of affirmative action have long argued that race-conscious admissions help address historical inequities and produce doctors who better reflect the patient populations they serve, particularly in underserved communities. California voters ended affirmative action in college admissions through a 1997 ballot measure. In a brief filed in the Supreme Court case that overturned race-based admissions nationwide, the UC system said the change led to a precipitous drop in underrepresented minorities at its most selective campuses.
What the Right Is Saying
Trump administration officials argue the findings demonstrate systematic discrimination against white and Asian American applicants. Harmeet Dhillon, head of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, wrote in the letter of findings that highly qualified white, Asian, and other students were denied admission on the basis of their race.
Conservatives say colleges have circumvented the 2023 Supreme Court ruling by using essays, personal statements, and supplemental questions as proxies for racial preferences. The administration has opened investigations into medical school admissions at Stanford University, Ohio State University, and the University of California, San Diego in addition to UCLA. Officials argue enforcement is necessary to ensure compliance with federal civil rights law.
What the Numbers Show
The Justice Department cited data showing admitted students who were Black or Hispanic had lower average grade-point averages and test scores compared with white and Asian American applicants in 2023 and 2024. Among Black students admitted in 2024, the average GPA was 3.72, compared with 3.84 for Asian Americans and 3.83 for white students at UCLA's medical school.
The department said this disparity is evidence that the medical school used non-academic factors to achieve diversity goals rather than evaluating candidates purely on academic merit. The UC system has previously stated in court filings that it implemented numerous race-neutral measures designed to increase diversity after affirmative action was banned in California, but struggled to increase campus racial diversity.
The Bottom Line
The finding sets the stage for a voluntary resolution requiring UCLA's medical school to come into compliance with the Justice Department's legal interpretation. If no agreement is reached, potential legal action could follow. Penalties could include loss of federal funding, which would represent a significant financial impact given the university's research and medical programs.
The broader implications extend beyond UCLA. The administration's investigations into Stanford, Ohio State, UC San Diego, and other selective institutions suggest a wider enforcement effort targeting how universities assess admissions criteria. Higher education administrators will be watching closely to see whether this signals more aggressive oversight of compliance with the 2023 Supreme Court ruling.