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DOJ to investigate alleged discriminatory University of California hiring practices

The Justice Department announced a civil rights investigation Thursday into the University of California over Trump administration concerns that its faculty hiring practices plan may violate federal anti-discrimination laws. At issue is the university system’s “UC 2030 Capacity Plan,” which the DOJ said may contain race- and sex-based employment quotas in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act […]

The Justice Department announced a civil rights investigation Thursday into the University of California over Trump administration concerns that its faculty hiring practices plan may violate federal anti-discrimination laws.

At issue is the university system’s “UC 2030 Capacity Plan,” which the DOJ said may contain race- and sex-based employment quotas in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The plan allegedly aims to expand the university’s tenure-track faculty rapidly while prioritizing demographic diversity, a hallmark feature of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, which the Trump administration is attempting to root out of institutions nationally.

Former Trump campaign lawyer Harmeet Dhillon speaks with a member of the audience after testifying at a House Committee on House Administration hearing on “American Confidence in Elections: Protecting Political Speech” on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, May 11, 2023. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

“Public employers are bound by federal laws that prohibit racial and other employment discrimination,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division. “Institutional directives that use race- and sex-based hiring practices expose employers to legal risk under federal law.”


The DOJ’s investigation seeks to determine whether the university has engaged in a “pattern or practice” of discrimination by setting DEI-driven targets for hiring 1,100 new ladder-rank faculty and recruiting at least 40% of graduate students from Hispanic-serving institutions, historically black colleges and universities, tribal colleges, and within UC’s undergraduate system.

Dhillon told school officials in a letter Thursday that the “investigation is based on information suggesting that the University of California may be engaged in certain employment practices that discriminate against employees, job applicants, and training program participants based on race and sex in violation of Title VII.”

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The letter noted that “no conclusions” have been made about the subject of the investigation.

A university spokesperson said UC is “committed to fair and lawful processes” and will cooperate with the Justice Department in good faith.

“The University also aims to foster a campus environment where everyone is welcomed and supported,” the spokesperson said.

The UC 2030 hiring expansion is tied closely to the university’s broader DEI mission, which includes a stated goal to “diversify the faculty because new hires are more diverse than existing faculty.” The program also states in its introduction that the goal is to “ensure UC students in 2030 better reflect California’s diversity, both racial/ethnic and geographic.”

Federal officials are scrutinizing whether such diversity goals cross the legal line into discriminatory quotas after the Supreme Court ruled in 2023 that colleges may not consider race in admissions, a blow to affirmative action that has had major implications for civil rights law in employment cases beyond education.

President Donald Trump has prioritized enforcement against DEI mandates his administration deems unlawful, including in federal contracting, higher education, and public K-12 systems.

DOJ moves quickly after Education Department finds Title IX violations

The DOJ investigation comes one day after the Education Department separately uncovered evidence that the California Education Department and California Interscholastic Federation violated Title IX by allowing biological males to compete in female-only sports.

Different and transgender concept. third gender and sex, many gender, world national more gender. Symbol of transgender.
Different and transgender concept. Third gender and sex, many genders, world, national, more genders. Symbol of transgender.

Two separate federal investigations concluded that the California Department of Education and California Interscholastic Federation violated Title IX by allowing biological males to compete in female sports, the agency revealed Wednesday.

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Officials with the Education Department said California “actively prevented equality of opportunity” and must rescind policies that conflict with federal law or face “imminent enforcement action.”

That proposed resolution includes a ban on allowing males in female-designated sports, a requirement to restore lost records and awards to affected female athletes, and the adoption of biology-based definitions of “male” and “female.”

Broader legal fights between Golden State hit fever pitch

This lawsuit marks another aggressive conflict between the federal government and the Golden State in recent days. Earlier this month, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) sued the federal government after Trump federalized the California National Guard to end unrest in Los Angeles.

President Donald Trump talks with Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) after arriving on Air Force One on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025, at Los Angeles International Airport.
President Donald Trump talks with Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) after arriving on Air Force One, Friday, Jan. 24, 2025, at Los Angeles International Airport. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit reversed left-leaning U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer’s decision favoring Newsom. However, Breyer is still keeping the case alive to determine whether the Trump administration violated the Posse Comitatus Act.

Also this week, the DOJ said it is backing a Huntington Beach sheriff’s effort to combat a law that makes it difficult for local law enforcement in the state to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.

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Likewise, the Golden State has been threatened by Education Secretary Linda McMahon to align itself with federal Title IX guidelines or face an additional investigation by the DOJ.

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“We are giving them 10 days to remedy the situation. We have a remedy for them, but if they do not comply within 10 days, we will refer this to the Department of Justice,” McMahon said Wednesday.

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