The Trump administration is planning to join a federal lawsuit that accuses UCLA’s prestigious David Geffen School of Medicine of racial discrimination in its admissions process.
The allegations suggest that the school has a policy of prioritizing black applicants over Asian and white candidates, which is seen as a deliberate attempt to maintain “racial balance,” as outlined in court documents.
This lawsuit is filed in collaboration with Do No Harm, a group against identity-based health care policies, and Students for Fair Admissions, which has been involved in earlier cases regarding race in college admissions.
“UCLA’s unlawful racial discrimination has harmed and continues to harm applicants,” the legal filing states.
The Justice Department claims that UCLA’s practices are not just unconstitutional but also create a stigma against minority applicants, who are then perceived as less qualified, while admitting others who may be less capable of succeeding as physicians.
Among the plaintiffs is Kelly Mahoney, a white applicant who alleges she was denied admission to the medical school because of her race.
In June 2023, the Supreme Court ruled against direct consideration of race in college admissions, citing the 14th Amendment and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, effectively ending affirmative action in college admissions.
