DOJ Joins Lawsuit Alleging Anti-White Discrimination in LA School District

Federal government intervenes in case against nation's second-largest school system over race-based funding and admissions policies.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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The U.S. Department of Justice has joined a federal lawsuit accusing the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) of illegally sorting students by race to determine funding and school admissions. The DOJ claims LAUSD's 'Predominantly Hispanic, Black, Asian, and Other' (PHBAO) program, which classifies neighborhoods as 'Anglo' or 'non-Anglo' and distributes resources accordingly, is unconstitutional and discriminatory against white students.

Why it matters

This case highlights ongoing debates over affirmative action, racial equity, and equal protection in education. The DOJ's intervention signals the federal government's view that LAUSD's policies unfairly disadvantage white students and violate civil rights laws.

The details

The DOJ filed a motion to intervene in the lawsuit originally brought by the 1776 Project Foundation, a conservative education nonprofit. The lawsuit targets LAUSD's PHBAO program, which provides extra funding and admission preferences to schools in areas with fewer than 30% white residents. Over 600 LAUSD campuses fall under the PHBAO classification, leaving fewer than 100 outside of it.

  • The DOJ filed its motion to intervene on February 21, 2026.
  • The original lawsuit was filed by the 1776 Project Foundation in January 2026.

The players

Department of Justice (DOJ)

The U.S. federal government agency responsible for enforcing civil rights laws and investigating discrimination.

Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD)

The second-largest school district in the United States, serving the city of Los Angeles and surrounding areas.

1776 Project Foundation

A conservative education nonprofit that originally filed the lawsuit against LAUSD's race-based policies.

Pamela Bondi

The Attorney General who stated the DOJ will never stop fighting to ensure equal treatment for public school students.

Harmeet Dhillon

The Assistant Attorney General who called LAUSD's classification system unlawful and un-American.

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What they’re saying

“Treating Americans equally is not a suggestion — it is a core constitutional guarantee that educational institutions must follow. This Department of Justice will never stop fighting to make that guarantee a reality, including for public-school students in Los Angeles.”

— Pamela Bondi, Attorney General (DOJ Press Release)

“Los Angeles County students should never be classified or treated differently because of their race. Yet this school district is doing exactly that by providing benefits that treat students — based on their race — as though they have learning disabilities. Racial discrimination is unlawful and un-American, and this Civil Rights Division will fight to ensure that every LAUSD student is treated equally under the law.”

— Harmeet Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General (DOJ Press Release)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide whether to allow the DOJ to formally intervene in the lawsuit against LAUSD's race-based policies.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing national debate over affirmative action, racial equity, and equal protection in education. The DOJ's decision to join the lawsuit signals the federal government's view that LAUSD's policies unfairly disadvantage white students and violate civil rights laws, reigniting discussions around the appropriate role of race in school admissions and resource allocation.