DOJ Probes Arizona State DEI Practices at 1 of the Nation’s Largest Universities
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jun 3
DOJ Probes Arizona State DEI Practices at 1 of the Nation’s Largest Universities
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 3
Summary
The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division opened an investigation into Arizona State University over whether its DEI policies illegally treated students differently by race, color or national origin.
Viral videos prompted the probe, and DOJ said it will examine admissions, recruitment, scholarships, tutoring and other educational support while also reviewing allegations the practices were concealed from federal scrutiny.
ASU said it complies fully with federal law, does not discriminate in admissions and has operated since 2010 under an Arizona constitutional provision barring preferential treatment or discrimination on those grounds.
Federal law requires schools receiving federal funds to provide equal access, and DOJ said the investigation has not yet reached any conclusions about whether ASU violated civil-rights rules.
As the DOJ investigates ASU's diversity programs, are thousands of similar university initiatives now at risk nationwide?
Secret videos sparked a federal probe into ASU's DEI. What does this mean for the future of student support programs?
DOJ Launches Title VI Investigation into ASU: Federal Scrutiny of DEI Practices and Potential Impact on Funding (June 2026)
Overview
The Department of Justice launched a federal investigation into Arizona State University’s DEI practices after undercover videos, released by Accuracy in Media, appeared to show ASU administrators discussing how DEI programs continued under new names despite policy changes. These videos led Protect the Public’s Trust to file a federal complaint, alleging that ASU was still engaging in race-conscious programming and possibly violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. The investigation now puts ASU’s admissions, scholarships, and support services under scrutiny, highlighting the national debate over DEI and the legal risks universities face when navigating anti-discrimination laws.