The Trump administration has set its sights on Duke University, launching a probe that could shake the ivory towers of academia. The investigation, announced Monday, targets alleged Civil Rights Act violations at Duke and its Law Journal, as CNN reports. It’s a bold move, signaling that no institution is too prestigious to escape scrutiny when it comes to woke policies.
The Education Department is spearheading the effort, claiming Duke’s practices in hiring, admissions, and scholarships may violate federal law. Education Secretary Linda McMahon and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. penned a letter to Duke, zeroing in on race-based preferences. The administration argues these policies foster division rather than fairness.
Duke’s School of Medicine and Duke Health are under the microscope for systemic racial discrimination, according to the letter. McMahon and Kennedy demanded that Duke review all policies for illegal race preferences and reform them swiftly. This isn’t a polite suggestion -- it’s a federal mandate with funding on the line.
The probe follows a $200 million settlement with Columbia University to restore its federal funding. Cornell and Brown are reportedly in talks with the administration, with deals looming. An official noted, “Cornell and Brown universities are engaging in negotiations and agreements are in sight,” suggesting Duke could be next if it plays ball.
Unlike its Ivy League peers, Duke hasn’t shown a willingness to negotiate, per an administration official. This defiance could cost the university dearly, especially with federal funding at stake. Duke’s silence -- its spokesperson didn’t respond to CNN—speaks volumes about its stance.
The investigation zeros in on Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which bans discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in federally funded programs. The administration contends that Duke’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives cross this line. DEI, they argue, “creates and then amplifies prejudicial hostility and exacerbates interpersonal conflict.”
President Donald Trump is delivering on his campaign vow to dismantle DEI programs in his second term. The Education Department’s February threat to cut funding for schools pushing DEI forced many to scrub their websites and shutter programs. Duke, it seems, didn’t get the memo.
The letter from McMahon and Kennedy calls for Duke to form a “Merit and Civil Rights Committee” to align with federal law. Kennedy said, “He and McMahon are calling on Duke to form a ‘Merit and Civil Rights Committee’ to work with the federal government.” Yet, mandating a committee to fix what’s broken feels like asking the fox to guard the henhouse.
Duke’s financial woes add pressure to comply, with National Institutes of Health grant cuts already biting. The Duke Chronicle reports layoffs looming in August, alongside a voluntary separation incentive. Losing federal funding could turn this pinch into a chokehold.
This probe marks the first time the Trump administration has targeted a school in a state he carried electorally. It’s a strategic flex, showing no region is safe from the anti-woke crusade. Duke’s prestige won’t shield it from accountability.
The administration’s legal battles extend beyond Duke, with Harvard facing a $2 billion funding freeze. Stephen Miller, a Trump adviser and Duke alumnus, is a key architect of this higher education crackdown. His influence ensures the administration’s gaze remains fixed on academia’s sacred cows.
Studies cited by DEI defenders claim diverse campuses boost cultural awareness and political engagement. But the administration sees these programs as divisive, prioritizing group identity over individual merit. The data may say one thing, but common sense questions the cost of engineered outcomes.
The Duke Law Journal faces scrutiny alongside the university, though details on specifically alleged violations remain sparse. CNN’s request for comment from the journal went unanswered, mirroring Duke’s tight-lipped approach. Silence won’t make this storm pass.
The Education Department’s demands are clear: Duke must overhaul policies at Duke Health and ensure compliance with civil rights laws. Failure to do so risks federal funding, a lifeline for research-heavy institutions like Duke. The clock is ticking, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Trump’s team is playing hardball, using federal leverage to reshape higher education. Duke’s next move -- cooperate or resist -- will signal whether it values arguably misguided principles or pragmatism. For now, the administration’s message is clear: woke policies have no place in a merit-based system.
