The Justice Department has moved to halt the minority-only scholarship program in Illinois, citing constitutional violations. The program was deemed to discriminate on the basis of race, which contravenes the Fourteenth Amendment. This decision follows the Supreme Court’s ruling in Students for Fair Admissions Inc. v. President & Fellow of Harvard College, which prohibits race-based selection in higher education.
Following the Justice Department's findings, several universities, including Northwestern University, Loyola University of Chicago, and the University of Chicago, have ended their involvement in the program. All institutions notified of the findings have opted out of their participation.
The Illinois Board of Higher Education, responsible for managing the DEI scholarship program, has suspended all related activities. This suspension allows for a review with the Illinois General Assembly during the current legislative session.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi stated, "This Department of Justice is committed to rooting DEI out of American institutions, including in the education system. This latest victory illustrates that the threat of legal action can be enough to force bad actors into dissolving harmful practices that disregard merit and divide Americans based on race."
For information on the Civil Rights Division, visit the Justice Department's website. Potential violations of federal civil rights laws can be reported online or via a toll-free number.