Cornell University Hit With Federal Civil Rights Complaint Over Alleged Discriminatory Dei Practices

A blimpish deliberation vessel revenge a national civilian authorities title against Cornell University, accusing nan Ivy League institution of utilizing diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) successful its hiring practices and scholarships.

The America First Policy Institute (AFPI) revenge nan title successful precocious June pinch nan U.S. Departments of Justice, Education, Health and Human Services and nan Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. (FOX Business big Larry Kudlow presently serves arsenic nan vice chair of nan committee for AFPI.)

The title alleges that soul documents, nationalist policies and archived webpages show a "university-wide civilization that places an forbidden identity-based ideology supra adjacent opportunity and merit, starring to a coercive and dispute environment."

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A national civilian authorities title was revenge against Cornell University successful precocious June 2025. (iStock)

Among nan allegations successful nan 10-page title is that Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff, who served arsenic provost during nan clip nan alleged practices were implemented, oversaw a "hiring scheme" that "excluded nan immense mostly of qualified candidates based solely connected title and sex."

The AFPI archive highlights a December 2020 email from a section chair to module members and administrators astir a scheme to make "our hoped-for diverseness hire."

Kotlikoff did not straight respond to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment. Lindsey Knewstub, Cornell’s lawman head for media relations, referred Fox News Digital to a connection posted connected nan university’s website.

"The assemblage powerfully disputes nan allegations successful nan America First Policy Institute title that references a number of outdated websites aliases programs that person not been successful usage for galore years," the statement publication successful part. "Over nan past year, nan assemblage has further enhanced its compliance pinch civilian authorities laws by engaging extracurricular rule firms to audit argumentation and practices to bespeak changes successful rule aliases regulations, taking swift corrective action wherever necessary."

Cornell University was deed pinch a national civilian authorities title complete alleged discriminatory DEI practices successful June 2025. (Bing Guan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

It noted that "misunderstandings of policies" tin hap arsenic Cornell makes thousands of hiring decisions crossed hundreds of departments each year.

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"If favoritism aliases bias is observed astatine immoderate shape successful immoderate hiring process, it should beryllium reported and will beryllium corrected," nan connection continued. 

"The assemblage does not tolerate unlawful discrimination successful hiring aliases immoderate different facet of immoderate assemblage programme aliases practice, and nan assemblage has taken and will proceed to return prompt, effective, and due action to respond to immoderate and each allegations of immoderate usurpation of rule aliases nan university’s adjacent opportunity and antidiscrimination policy."

AFPI besides alleged successful its title that nan Ithaca-based assemblage restricted scholarships based connected title aliases ethnicity. It highlighted several identity-based scholarships that specifically referenced Latinos, underrepresented minorities, Native Americans and African Americans. 

Cornell said it administers its financial assistance and danasiwa programs successful compliance pinch applicable laws.

"This is astir civilian rights," said Jessica Hart Steinmann, AFPI’s executive wide counsel. "Cornell’s practices break national rule and basal principles of equality. It’s clip for nan authorities to act."

President Donald Trump has targeted DEI practices since taking agency successful January. He signed an executive bid directing nan termination of DEI mandates, policies, programs and activities successful nan national government. 

The Education Department, led by Secretary Linda McMahon, also issued a memo successful April directing authorities acquisition officials to destruct DEI programs and practices aliases consequence losing national funding.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon attends a Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission Event in nan East Room of nan White House, Thursday, May 22, 2025, successful Washington.  (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Harmeet Dhillon, nan adjunct lawyer wide for nan DOJ’s civilian authorities division, told The Wall Street Journal that her agency "will analyse each superior allegations of identity-based admissions, hiring, and student benefits."

"Discrimination by American colleges and universities must travel to an end," she said. "Cornell is nary objection to this rule."

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