Trump Administration Seeks to Join Lawsuit Alleging LAUSD Discriminates Against White Students

The Justice Department claims the district's desegregation policy unfairly benefits minority students.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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The U.S. Department of Justice is seeking to join a federal lawsuit accusing the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) of discriminating against white students. The lawsuit, filed by the 1776 Project Foundation, targets LAUSD's decades-old effort to help disadvantaged students of color by providing smaller class sizes and preferential treatment for magnet programs at predominantly minority schools.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing debate over affirmative action and race-conscious policies in education. The Trump administration claims these programs unfairly benefit minority students at the expense of white students, while LAUSD argues the policies are necessary to address real educational inequities.

The details

The lawsuit alleges that around 600 LAUSD campuses receive an 'illegal advantage' through smaller class sizes and preferential magnet program access, while about 100 schools with larger white student populations do not. The Justice Department agrees with the lawsuit's claims and wants to join the litigation, stating the programs 'treat students — based on their race — as though they have learning disabilities'.

  • The lawsuit was filed in federal court in January 2026.
  • The Justice Department filed its petition to join the lawsuit on February 19, 2026.

The players

1776 Project Foundation

The organization that filed the federal lawsuit against LAUSD.

Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD)

The second-largest school district in the nation, which is being accused of discriminating against white students through its desegregation policies.

U.S. Department of Justice

The federal agency seeking to join the lawsuit against LAUSD.

Harmeet K. Dhillon

Assistant Attorney General in the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division.

Nick Melvoin

LAUSD school board member who says the Justice Department's intervention is part of a 'broader effort to roll back civil rights' for students.

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What they’re saying

“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.”

— Harmeet K. Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Division, U.S. Department of Justice (Justice Department news release)

“This case will provide relief to the Plaintiff's members but will also relieve the entire LAUSD student population of the 'injury' of 'being forced to compete in a race-based system that may prejudice the[m].'”

— Harmeet K. Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Division, U.S. Department of Justice (Justice Department news release)

“The programs were designed to address real inequities and are driving historic progress for students of color and for all students. We won't be intimidated, and we will defend what works.”

— Nick Melvoin, LAUSD School Board Member (Los Angeles Times)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide whether to allow the Justice Department to join the lawsuit filed by the 1776 Project Foundation.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing debate over affirmative action and race-conscious policies in education, with the Trump administration claiming these programs unfairly benefit minority students while LAUSD argues they are necessary to address real educational inequities.