Listen to the article
The Trump administration has filed a lawsuit against Harvard University, claiming the Ivy League institution has failed to provide admissions records requested by the Justice Department. The lawsuit, filed Friday in federal court in Massachusetts, seeks to determine whether Harvard has ceased using affirmative action in its admissions process following a 2023 Supreme Court ruling.
Justice Department officials allege Harvard has “thwarted” their investigation into potential discrimination by refusing to comply with federal requests. Harmeet Dhillon, who leads the department’s Civil Rights Division, suggested the university’s reluctance raises concerns about its practices. “If Harvard has stopped discriminating, it should happily share the data necessary to prove it,” Dhillon said in a statement.
Harvard has pushed back against these allegations, asserting that it has been responsive to government inquiries and is in full compliance with the Supreme Court decision that barred race-conscious admissions. The university characterized the lawsuit as retaliatory, stating it would “continue to defend itself against these retaliatory actions which have been initiated simply because Harvard refused to surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights in response to unlawful government overreach.”
This legal action represents the latest development in an escalating conflict between the Trump administration and Harvard. The prestigious university has already faced billions of dollars in funding cuts and other sanctions after refusing to comply with a series of demands from the administration last year.
The Justice Department initiated its compliance review of Harvard’s admissions practices in April, coinciding with the White House issuing sweeping demands aligned with President Trump’s priorities. Federal officials requested five years of comprehensive admissions data for undergraduate applicants as well as those applying to Harvard’s medical and law schools.
The requested information included detailed records of applicants’ academic credentials, including grades, test scores, essays, and extracurricular activities, along with admissions outcomes and demographic information including race and ethnicity. According to the lawsuit, Harvard was given until April 25, 2025, to provide this data but has not yet complied.
Justice Department officials maintain they require this information to determine whether Harvard has continued to consider applicants’ race in admissions decisions despite the Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling. That landmark decision effectively ended affirmative action in college admissions following challenges to policies at both Harvard and the University of North Carolina.
The administration has repeatedly accused universities across the country of continuing race-conscious practices despite the court ruling, claiming such approaches discriminate against white and Asian American students. This scrutiny extends beyond Harvard, with the Education Department planning to collect more detailed admissions data from colleges nationwide after President Trump signed an action suggesting schools were circumventing the Supreme Court decision.
The conflict between Trump and Harvard appeared to be de-escalating last summer when the president repeatedly indicated they were finalizing an agreement to restore Harvard’s federal funding. However, those negotiations apparently collapsed, and Trump recently intensified the dispute by doubling his previous financial demand, now insisting Harvard pay $1 billion as part of any resolution.
While Trump officials have framed their actions against Harvard as addressing allegations of anti-Jewish bias on campus, university officials contend they are facing unconstitutional retaliation for refusing to adopt the administration’s ideological positions. This standoff has already resulted in multiple lawsuits, with a judge previously ruling in Harvard’s favor in two cases—decisions the administration is currently appealing.
The outcome of this latest legal challenge could have significant implications not only for Harvard but potentially for admissions practices at selective universities nationwide, as institutions navigate the post-affirmative action landscape while under intense federal scrutiny.
Fact Checker
Verify the accuracy of this article using The Disinformation Commission analysis and real-time sources.
10 Comments
This seems like another chapter in the ongoing battle over affirmative action policies. I’m curious to see what specific data the DOJ is seeking and how Harvard’s admissions practices will be evaluated.
Given the political sensitivities around this issue, it will be important for the investigation to be conducted in an impartial and transparent manner, regardless of the administration’s stance.
It’s concerning to see the government take such a confrontational approach with a leading university. I hope both sides can work towards a constructive resolution that upholds principles of fairness and equal opportunity.
The Trump administration’s aggressive stance on this issue is not surprising, given their previous actions regarding affirmative action. However, Harvard’s claims of compliance with the Supreme Court ruling warrant careful scrutiny.
This case highlights the tensions between efforts to promote diversity and concerns over potential discrimination. It will be worth following the legal proceedings to see how the courts navigate these challenging questions.
This case raises important questions about the role of race in college admissions and the balance between promoting diversity and ensuring fairness. I hope both sides can engage constructively to find a reasonable solution.
Regardless of one’s views on affirmative action, upholding principles of equal opportunity and transparency in the admissions process should be a shared goal. The public deserves to understand how these policies are being implemented.
This is an interesting development in the ongoing debate over affirmative action in university admissions. It will be important to see what data the DOJ is seeking and how Harvard responds. Transparency is key for public trust in these important policies.
I agree, the public deserves to understand how race factors into admissions decisions at elite universities. Both sides should aim for an open and fact-based dialogue on this complex issue.
The Trump administration’s decision to sue Harvard over its admissions policies is a bold move. It will be interesting to see how this legal battle plays out and what implications it may have for affirmative action more broadly.