The Justice Department investigation, led by its Civil Rights Division, will examine admissions policies at Stanford University, University of California Berkeley, University of California Los Angeles and University of California Irvine. Stanford already is in compliance with federal law, spokeperson Dee Mostofi said Thursday.

In a statement, the U.S. Department of Justice demanded compliance as it has launched a review investigation into both schools, along with UC Los Angeles and UC Irvine, noting that "colleges and universities are prohibited from using DEI discrimination in selecting students for admission.

California banned affirmative action decades ago. The Trump administration says it plans to investigate whether schools there are still considering race.