DOJ Civil Rights Division opened Title VI investigation into DEI programs at Arizona State University

On June 3, 2026, the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division announced it had opened a Title VI investigation into diversity, equity, and inclusion practices at Arizona State University, one of the nation's largest public universities and a major recipient of federal funds. The Division said it would examine whether ASU's DEI policies in admissions, recruitment, scholarships, tutoring, and educational support subject students to unlawful discrimination. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said the department is "committed to keeping universities free of unlawful discrimination — especially when they try to hide illegal conduct to avoid oversight and compliance." DOJ said the investigation was prompted by undercover videos produced by the conservative group Accuracy in Media purporting to show ASU staff describing race-based decision-making; the department stated it "has not reached any conclusions about the subject matter of the investigation." ASU has said it operates under a 2010 Arizona constitutional provision barring preferential treatment or discrimination based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in public education.