Can the University of California’s bold diversity vision survive the U.S. Department of Justice’s scrutiny? The Trump Administration demands answers.
At a Glance
- The U.S. Department of Justice has launched a major investigation into the University of California system’s hiring practices.
- The probe will determine if UC’s faculty diversity initiatives violate federal anti-discrimination law.
- The investigation specifically targets UC’s “2030 Capacity Plan,” which the DOJ alleges uses illegal race- and sex-based quotas.
- The University of California denies the allegations and maintains its hiring practices are lawful and consistent with state and federal regulations.
DOJ Targets University of California
The U.S. Department of Justice, under the Trump Administration, has opened a system-wide investigation into the University of California over alleged race- and sex-based discrimination in its faculty hiring. The DOJ’s Civil Rights Division announced the probe on Thursday, June 26, 2025, in a letter to UC President Michael Drake.
The investigation will examine whether the university’s efforts to increase faculty diversity violate Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits employment discrimination. As reported by the Los Angeles Times, this is the latest move in a broader campaign by the administration against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in higher education.
Diversity Goals vs. “Illegal Quotas”
The investigation centers on the university’s “UC 2030 Capacity Plan,” a strategic initiative designed to increase student enrollment and ensure that faculty and graduates better reflect the diversity of California’s population. However, the DOJ alleges the plan goes too far.
In its announcement, the Justice Department claimed the plan “directs its campuses to hire ‘diverse’ faculty members to meet race- and sex-based employment quotas.” Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon stated, “Institutional directives that use race- and sex-based hiring practices expose employers to legal risk under federal law.”
The University’s Defense
The University of California has pushed back against the allegations, defending its diversity programs as both essential to its mission and fully compliant with the law. In a statement reported by the Daily Bruin, a UC spokesperson said, “The University of California is committed to fair and lawful processes in all of our programs and activities, consistent with federal and state anti-discrimination laws.”
The university also points to its adherence to California’s Proposition 209, the 1996 law that banned the use of race as a factor in public hiring and university admissions. The core of the dispute lies in whether UC’s diversity goals constitute a permissible effort to broaden applicant pools or an illegal system of preferential treatment. This investigation forces a confrontation between two competing visions of equal opportunity and sets the stage for a high-stakes legal battle with billions in federal funding potentially on the line.
