Duke University is currently facing an unprecedented wave of federal scrutiny, with at least five investigations launched by the Trump administration over the past 18 months targeting everything from admissions policies to international research partnerships.
The federal crackdown has reached a critical juncture in recent weeks, as investigations into the university’s graduate programs have yielded formal findings of racial discrimination. Both the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have concluded that Duke’s Law School and School of Medicine, respectively, discriminated against white and Asian applicants.
In its report on the School of Medicine, the HHS Office for Civil Rights noted that internal communications suggested admissions officers were encouraged to identify race in personal statements and essays to “reward and penalize” applicants accordingly. The investigation highlighted a disparity in standardized test scores, noting that accepted Black and Hispanic students had lower mean MCAT scores than their white and Asian counterparts. Similarly, the DOJ’s probe into the Law School pointed to “Diversity/Services” tags used during application reviews as evidence of discriminatory practices. Both departments have requested that the university enter into “voluntary resolution agreements” to ensure compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, threatening potential litigation if an agreement is not reached.
Beyond admissions, the scope of federal oversight has expanded to include international and institutional practices. Last week, the Department of Education and the Department of State opened a new investigation into Duke’s foreign funding disclosures, specifically regarding Duke Kunshan University (DKU). Federal officials allege that Duke repeatedly failed to accurately disclose funding from Chinese partners, accusing the university of mischaracterizing the nature of these transactions. Paul Moore, chief investigative counsel at the Department of Education, expressed “serious concerns” regarding Duke’s alignment with research entities involved in Chinese military activities. The university has been ordered to provide documentation by October 15.
The administration’s focus also extends to student-run institutions. In July 2025, the Department of Education began an inquiry into the Duke Law Journal over allegations that it weighted applicant scores based on race, ethnicity, and affinity group leadership. This investigation, which has drawn comparisons to similar actions taken against Harvard University, saw HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Secretary of Education Linda McMahon jointly demand that the Board of Trustees establish a “Merit and Civil Rights Committee” to oversee university decision-making.
This regulatory pressure has already forced operational changes at the university. In February 2026, Duke officially terminated its partnership with the Ph.D. Project—a program designed to support underrepresented students—after federal investigators deemed the organization’s exclusionary criteria a potential violation of the Civil Rights Act.
Throughout this series of inquiries, Duke’s official response has remained consistent. A university spokesperson stated: “Duke is committed to complying with the law and will continue to do so in a manner that is consistent with our academic mission.”
As deadlines for voluntary resolution approach, the ultimate implications for Duke’s admissions policies and international standing remain uncertain.
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