Yale Threat Gives Trump a New Wedge Against Affirmative Action

The Justice Department has given Yale University its own admissions deadline: Stop considering applicants’ race by Sept. 15.

The government sent a letter to Yale this month saying the school illegally discriminates against Asian-American and White applicants in undergraduate admissions. The department could sue if Yale continues to consider race.

The letter, citing a two-year investigation, is the latest volley in the long culture war over affirmative action. Measures intended to help historically disadvantaged groups like African Americans are often seen as hurting historically advantaged groups like White people. However, the Supreme Court has previously allowed race-conscious admissions policies like ...