President Trump’s Justice Department opened a federal civil rights investigation into Arizona State University this week over allegations the school kept DEI practices alive while hiding them from federal oversight.
The Civil Rights Division announced the Title VI investigation on June 3, 2026.
DOJ says recent viral videos indicated ASU denied equal treatment to students based on race, color, or national origin, and that the school tried to conceal those practices from federal scrutiny.
Today, the @CivilRights Division opened an investigation into Arizona State University to determine whether the school is hiding unlawful DEI practices. Universities receiving federal funding cannot discriminate against ANY student based on race.https://t.co/FeTSxQFxa3
— AAGHarmeetDhillon (@AAGDhillon) June 3, 2026
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon is running the probe out of the Civil Rights Division.
She said no student should be denied access to opportunities or resources because of race, color, or national origin.
ASU is one of the largest universities in the country and a major recipient of federal funds, which is exactly what makes Title VI scrutiny so consequential here.
The investigation will look at admissions, recruitment, scholarships, tutoring, and educational support to determine whether students are being treated differently by race.
The Justice Department laid out the scope in its official release:
The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division announced today that it launched an investigation into diversity, equity, and inclusion practices at Arizona State University (ASU). Recent viral videos indicating ASU denied equal treatment to students based on race, color, or national origin — while attempting to hide its discriminatory practices from federal scrutiny — prompted the investigation.
“No student should be denied access to opportunities or resources because of race, color, or national origin,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The United States is committed to keeping universities free of unlawful discrimination — especially when they try to hide illegal conduct to avoid oversight and compliance.”
ASU is one of the nation’s largest universities and is a major recipient of federal funds. The Division’s investigation will examine whether ASU subjects its students to illegal discrimination through its DEI policies in admissions, recruitment, scholarships, tutoring, and the provision of educational support.
The Civil Rights Division has not reached any conclusions about the subject matter of the investigation.
DOJ is clear that it has not reached conclusions yet. This is an open investigation, not a finding of guilt.
Dhillon framed the core question plainly when she announced it.
She said the division wants to determine whether ASU is hiding unlawful DEI practices, and that universities taking federal money cannot discriminate against any student based on race.
The investigative group Accuracy in Media says it helped trigger the probe.
The conservative watchdog posted that DOJ launched the investigation following evidence it brought to light:
Our investigation into ASU is making an impact. The U.S. Department of Justice has launched an investigation into Arizona State University’s DEI practices following evidence brought to light by Accuracy in Media.
Now it’s time to keep the pressure on.
Take action today:…
— Accuracy In Media (@AccuracyInMedia) June 4, 2026
The bigger fight underneath all this is simple. Schools that quietly renamed or repackaged race-based programs after the courts and the administration moved against DEI now have to answer for whether they actually changed anything or just hid it better.
Arizona State is one of the first big public universities to find out what that answer costs.
This is a Guest Post from our friends over at WLTReport. View the original article here.
