By Solange Reyner | Thursday, May 14, 2026 at 5:02 p.m. EDT
The U.S. Justice Department announced Thursday that a yearlong investigation found Yale School of Medicine engaged in illegal racial discrimination during admissions despite the Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling banning race-conscious college admissions policies.
In a statement, the department’s Civil Rights Division accused Yale leadership of “intentionally selecting applicants based on their race” and using “racial proxies” to circumvent the high court’s decision. Admissions data revealed Black and Hispanic applicants with comparable test scores were admitted at higher rates than white and Asian applicants.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon stated: “Yale has continued its race-based admissions program despite the Supreme Court and the public’s clear mandate for reform.” He added that the Justice Department would continue to “shed light on these illegal practices” and demand compliance with federal law.
The investigation found Black and Hispanic applicants were admitted with “consistently lower academic qualifications” than white and Asian applicants, constituting intentional racial discrimination under federal law. This marks the latest escalation in the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at U.S. institutions of higher education.
Since the Supreme Court’s ruling in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, federal authorities have intensified scrutiny of college admissions practices nationwide. The Justice Department emphasized that medical schools receiving federal funding must adhere to anti-discrimination laws while training future physicians.
“Medical schools use substantial federal financial assistance to train the next generation of doctors,” the department said. “The Department is continuing its focus on eradicating illegal race politics from admissions at medical schools, where quality and excellence are vitally important to public safety.”
The department did not immediately announce penalties or legal action against Yale but pledged ongoing efforts to ensure compliance with federal civil rights law. Yale has not yet responded to a request for comment.
The Supreme Court’s 2023 decision invalidated race-conscious admissions policies at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina, ruling they violated the Equal Protection Clause. This decision forced colleges nationwide to revise admissions processes that had long considered race as one factor among others.
