Arizona State University is under federal investigation for alleged discriminatory diversity, equity, and inclusion practices, signaling a broadening of the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle such programs in higher education.
The Department of Justice announced on Wednesday that it has launched an investigation into Arizona State through its Civil Rights Division. The probe was reportedly triggered by recent viral videos alleging that the university denies equal treatment to students based on race, color, or national origin while attempting to conceal discriminatory practices from federal oversight.
“No student should be denied access to opportunities or resources because of race, color, or national origin,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, who leads the Civil Rights Division. “The United States is committed to keeping universities free of unlawful discrimination, especially when they try to hide illegal conduct to avoid oversight and compliance.”
Since returning to office, President Donald Trump has enacted multiple executive orders targeting diversity and inclusion programs at colleges and universities that receive federal funding or contracts. The administration has directed federal agencies to pursue enforcement actions against programs it deems discriminatory under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, potentially resulting in the loss of grants, contracts, or other federal support.
Over 50 institutions have faced similar actions previously through the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights. This DOJ investigation represents a significant escalation in the administration’s campaign against diversity initiatives.
The announcement follows months of secretly recorded videos published by Accuracy in Media, a conservative watchdog group, depicting university employees discussing diversity programs. In January, ASU Associate Director Rebecca Loftus was recorded speaking with an AIM investigator posing as a prospective student about how the university continues DEI-related programming despite federal and state directives and an ongoing lawsuit.
During that meeting, Loftus described systems implemented to maintain those efforts and the creation of new offices designed to shield such programs from scrutiny. She stated the approach is deliberate because openly promoting diversity initiatives could jeopardize funding: “You’re not going to find very many programs that are going to broadcast it as before because the federal funding for universities, especially state-run universities like ASU… If you have federal funds withheld, it really makes a big impact.”
It remains unclear whether the DOJ’s reference to “recent viral videos” relates to Accuracy in Media’s recordings.
Chandra Crudup, an associate dean at ASU’s Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions and clinical professor in its School of Social Work, told an undercover AIM investigator posing as a prospective student that departments within the university have adjusted their language to avoid targeting while continuing DEI efforts. She identified the university’s “IDEA Office,” which she described as providing faculty with tools for incorporating inclusive practices into coursework.
Crudup also detailed an “inclusion network” formed by employees across academic and administrative units to coordinate inclusion initiatives. In the recording, she stated: “We started changing language, but we’re still doing the same thing. We’ve shifted some of our language.”
A university spokesperson affirmed that ASU complies fully with federal law and does not discriminate in admissions. The spokesperson added, “ASU is aware of the Department of Justice’s press release regarding an investigation and the ‘recent viral videos’ referred to in it. The university has no comment on these videos, as ASU does not comment on secret video recordings of its employees who are not authorized to speak on behalf of the university.”
