Trump Administration takes aim at Duke

[Rees Shearer]

How do you all think we can respond to this malicious meddling and extortion?

https://www.wunc.org/education/2025-07-30/duke-university-dei-federal

Duke University hit with two federal investigations over diversity practices

The Trump Administration is investigating Duke University over its diversity practices. The probe comes as hundreds of employees prepare to leave the university due to federal funding cuts.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr and Education Secretary Linda McMahon recently sent a letter to Duke administrators. In it, they allege the university's health system and medical school are engaging in “wrongful racial preferences” in hiring and admissions.

“This vile racism carries a host of excuses and hides behind a smug superiority that such ‘benefitted’ races cannot compete under merit-based consideration,” the letter stated. “Like all racism, ‘affirmative action’ undermines America’s commitment to merit-based justice and violates the nation’s civil rights laws.”

The letter does not cite specific practices or examples of the alleged racism, but the missive fits into the Trump Administration's wider crackdown on diversity, equity, and inclusion policies in education, business, and government.

Kennedy and McMahon urge Duke administrators set up a “Merit and Civil Rights Committee” to review its diversity policies “to avoid invasive federal engagement.” The secretaries warn the university's federal funding could be at risk if it doesn’t change course. “It is our hope that Duke Medical School and other components of Duke Health will either demonstrate that they merit the privilege of receiving taxpayer support or will enact reforms that make further enforcement efforts unnecessary,” the letter said.

McMahon and Kennedy ask the university to respond to the letter within ten business days. So far, Duke has not responded to media requests for comment on the letter. In addition, CNN and other media outletsreport HHS has frozen $108 million in funding for Duke Health.

The Duke Health investigation comes the same week that the Department of Education announced an investigation into diversity practices at Duke’s student-edited Law Journal…

[MARK PINSKY]

Rees,

       Concerned Alumni is on the case. We’re working on an open letter to Price. Please reach out to Jeff Gold for a copy of where we are in the process so we can get as much broad based alumni input and  support, especially from Vigil and Allen Building veterans.

Mark P

Sent from my iPhone

On Jul 31, 2025, at 5:34 AM, Rees Shearer <rrsh...@gmail.com> wrote:

How do you all think we can respond to this malicious meddling and extortion?

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