The U.S. Department of Justice opened investigations into City University of New York’s Black Male Initiative, alleging the program discriminates by providing educational benefits based on race. DOJ said it received reports that the initiative favors black males over students of other races, even though CUNY describes the program as open to all academically eligible students. The Black Male Initiative spans many CUNY campuses and is designed to increase outcomes through peer mentoring, counseling, tutoring, and workshops focused on entrepreneurship, racial justice, and economic mobility. DOJ framed the probe around potential violations of Title VI, which prohibits federally funded institutions from discriminating based on race, color, or national origin. The investigations reflect broader federal scrutiny of race-conscious or targeted student-success programming. For CUNY and other systems, the case puts pressure on how program eligibility, messaging, and resource allocation are structured and documented to meet evolving civil-rights standards.