In American education, opportunity has traditionally been the cornerstone of advancement. Hard work, dedication, and intellectual merit have long stood as the pathway to success for generations of students seeking to better their future.

For decades, elite educational institutions have operated under systems increasingly detached from these foundational American principles. Who decided that skin color should matter more than academic achievement? Questions have persisted about whether all students truly compete on a level playing field.

The pendulum appears to be swinging back toward traditional merit-based standards that once defined American education. And it’s about time, if you ask me.

Attorney General Pam Bondi has directed compliance review investigations into the admissions policies at Stanford University and multiple University of California schools, including Berkeley, UCLA, and UC Irvine. The Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division will spearhead these investigations, examining how diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies may have influenced admissions decisions.

“President Trump and I are dedicated to ending illegal discrimination and restoring merit-based opportunity across the country,” Bondi stated. “Every student in America deserves to be judged solely based on their hard work, intellect and character, not the color of their skin.”

The investigations come in the wake of the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Students for Fair Admissions Inc. v. President & Fellow of Harvard College. Indeed, this decision prohibits colleges and universities from using race-based discrimination in their admissions processes.

DOJ Takes Action Against Elite Universities

According to the Department of Justice, these elite educational institutions have “prioritized racial quotas over equality of opportunity” for decades. The practice, they argue, has divided Americans and discriminated against entire groups of applicants based solely on immutable characteristics.

The Biden administration reportedly “advanced the ideology behind this illegal practice and did nothing to protect the civil rights of American students,” according to the DOJ’s public affairs office. Remember when merit actually mattered in America?

Acting Associate Attorney General Chad Mizelle emphasized the significance of these investigations.

“The Department of Justice will put an end to a shameful system in which someone’s race matters more than their ability,” he said. “Every college and university should know that illegal discrimination in admissions will be investigated and eliminated.”

These investigations send a clear message that the Trump administration intends to enforce the Supreme Court’s ruling. They also hold accountable institutions that continue using race as a determining factor in admissions decisions.

Enforcing the Law of the Land

The Trump administration has already filed an emergency Supreme Court appeal. If granted, this would allow the slashing of hundreds of millions of dollars in grants from the Education Department to non-compliant institutions.

This rapid institutional response demonstrates that the administration’s approach is already having tangible effects. Universities appear to be recognizing that continued non-compliance could result in significant financial consequences. Amazing how quickly principles change when the money stops flowing, isn’t it?

The strategic enforcement of Supreme Court precedent marks a sharp departure from previous administrative approaches to college admissions. Where previous administrations expanded the role of race-conscious admissions, the current DOJ is actively working to eliminate such practices.

Just the Beginning

The DOJ has made it clear that these compliance investigations are “just the beginning of the department’s work in eradicating illegal DEI and protecting equality under the law.”

This suggests a broader initiative to restore merit-based admissions across American higher education. By targeting prestigious institutions like Stanford and UC Berkeley, the administration appears to be setting examples that will likely influence admissions policies nationwide.

For conservative advocates of merit-based education, this represents a significant step toward restoring traditional American values in higher education. The emphasis on achievement rather than identity aligns with long-held conservative principles about individual opportunity.

As these investigations unfold, university administrators across the country are likely reassessing their own admissions policies to ensure compliance with both the law and the new enforcement priorities.

As American education potentially returns to its foundations of merit and achievement, students may once again find themselves judged not by their identity. Instead, they’ll be judged by the content of their character and the quality of their work.

For many parents and students who have long felt the admissions system was rigged against those that simply work hard and play by the rules, this enforcement action represents a promising return to fundamental American principles of fairness and opportunity.

Key Takeaways:

• Trump’s DOJ is actively enforcing Supreme Court rulings against race-based college admissions.
• Elite universities like Stanford and UC schools face federal investigations and potential funding cuts.
• Virginia colleges have already begun dismantling DEI departments to comply with executive orders.
• This enforcement action marks a return to merit-based education principles after years of identity politics.

Source: Fox News