Overview
- The Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights initiated a directed Title VI probe into Duke University and its Law Journal after reporting showed extra points were awarded for underrepresented-group membership and affinity leadership.
- Education Secretary Linda McMahon and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. warned in a joint letter that Duke must resolve alleged civil rights violations within six months or face enforcement actions, including potential loss of federal funds.
- HHS’s Office for Civil Rights launched a parallel inquiry into alleged systemic racial discrimination at Duke Health and its School of Medicine, requiring a comprehensive policy review and the creation of a Merit and Civil Rights Committee.
- The Trump administration immediately froze $108 million in federal research funding for Duke Health, setting a six-month deadline for compliance or risk permanent withdrawal of the grants.
- This action builds on a broader federal campaign since early 2025 targeting race-conscious diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at elite universities, including similar investigations at Harvard and Columbia.