WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Education Department said on Monday its civil rights office initiated a probe into Duke University and the Duke Law Journal for allegations of race-related discrimination.

“This investigation is based on recent reporting alleging that Duke University discriminates on the bases of race, color, and/or national origin by using these factors to select law journal members,” the Education Department said in a statement.

The administration of President Donald Trump sent a letter to the university’s leadership alleging “the use of race preferences in Duke’s hiring, admissions, and scholarship decisions.”

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Chris Reese)