The Justice Department announced on May 6 that an investigation found the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) engaged in discrimination based on race during its admissions process.
The investigation is significant because it addresses compliance with federal law and Supreme Court precedent, which prohibit racial discrimination in higher education. The findings highlight concerns about fairness and merit-based selection in medical school admissions.
According to the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, evidence showed that UCLA leadership intentionally selected applicants based on their race. Documents reviewed during the investigation indicated that UCLA operated under the belief that patients receive better care from doctors of their own race, rather than prioritizing qualifications. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon said, “UCLA’s admissions process has been focused on racial demographics at the expense of merit and excellence — allowing racial politics to distract the school from the vital work of training great doctors.” Dhillon added, “Racism in admissions is both illegal and anti-American, and this Department will not allow it to continue.”
First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli also addressed the findings: “Federal law and Supreme Court precedent are clear: Race discrimination has no place in our nation’s institutions of higher learning. The pattern of illegal and odious conduct by UCLA’s medical school is abhorrent to our Constitution and our nation’s founding principles.”
The department reported that admitted Black and Hispanic applicants had consistently lower academic qualifications than white and Asian counterparts, supporting its conclusion that intentional discrimination occurred. Medical schools receive substantial federal financial assistance for training future doctors; therefore, compliance with anti-discrimination laws remains a focus for enforcement agencies.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California supports community outreach through programs focused on victim assistance and public education; serves more than 19 million residents across seven counties; focuses on prosecuting federal criminal cases as well as handling civil matters for the government; works with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to ensure public safety; covers seven counties; and E. Martin Estrada has held the position of United States Attorney for this district, according to the official website.
