The Washington University School of Medicine (WUSM) has moved its Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) from a publicly accessible location to a restricted floor—just as federal scrutiny intensifies over race‑based hiring and admissions practices. The relocation follows a formal civil rights complaint filed by America First Legal, urging the Department of Justice to investigate the university’s DEI operations for potential violations of federal anti‑discrimination laws.
Previously, WUSM’s DEI office operated from a first-floor suite in the North Medical Building. Floor plans listed the location clearly, and the office was open to students and faculty. However, it has now been relocated to the 12th floor of the Mid Campus Center, an area not marked on public floor plans and only accessible to individuals with approved credentials.
America First Legal alleges the move may be an attempt to obscure DEI practices from federal review. The group’s letter to the DOJ charges that WUSM engages in “systematic, intentional, and ongoing discrimination” based on race, sex, and other protected categories under the cover of diversity initiatives. The group says the university is potentially violating Title VI and Title IX by using DEI policies that impose racial and gender preferences.
The timing of the relocation raises concerns, especially given the current environment of heightened federal oversight. Federal agencies have been reevaluating DEI programs at publicly funded institutions following legal challenges and executive action targeting race-conscious policies in education.
Questions remain about the rationale for the move and whether the university is complying with transparency obligations tied to federal funding. The Department of Justice has not yet commented on whether it will investigate.
