WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), in coordination with the Department of Education, has opened a federal civil rights investigation into Duke University and its medical institutions over allegations of systemic racial discrimination. The probe follows mounting concerns that race-based preferences may be embedded within Duke Health’s operations, admissions, and research initiatives.
In a rare joint letter, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Education Secretary Linda McMahon called on Duke to cooperate fully and commit to reforms. The letter specifically urges the formation of a temporary “Merit and Civil Rights Committee,” empowered by the university’s Board of Trustees, to work alongside federal officials to identify and eliminate any unlawful practices within six months.
“HHS is making it clear: Federal funding must support excellence—not race—in medical education, research, and training,” said Kennedy.
McMahon echoed those sentiments, adding, “If Duke illegally gives preferential treatment to law journal or medical school applicants based on those students’ immutable characteristics, that is an affront not only to civil rights law, but to the meritocratic character of academic excellence.”
The investigation, led by the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR), is focused on potential violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act. Both statutes prohibit discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in federally funded programs and health services.
Duke has been given ten business days to respond to the federal request to establish the committee, while Duke Health must respond within 20 business days to a formal request for documentation related to its compliance with civil rights laws. The inquiry will examine all arms of Duke Health, including the Duke University School of Medicine and its affiliated professional schools and research centers.
According to HHS, this effort is part of a broader initiative under the Trump administration’s second term to scrutinize institutions believed to be violating anti-discrimination statutes under the guise of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. The administration has issued a “Dear Colleague” letter to medical schools nationwide, outlining areas of concern and enforcement priorities.
The actions are aligned with Executive Order 14173, which mandates federal agencies to investigate and eliminate illegal discrimination and reinstate merit-based standards across both public and private institutions receiving federal support.
This marks the eighth such investigation initiated by HHS OCR into academic and healthcare organizations in 2025 alone. The findings could have far-reaching implications for federal funding eligibility and future policy enforcement across the country’s educational and medical landscape.
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