WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is taking a stand against Harvard University by filing a lawsuit demanding admissions records that would help ensure the institution adheres to the Supreme Court's ruling against affirmative action.
Filed in federal court in Massachusetts, the lawsuit stems from a Justice Department investigation alleging that Harvard has “thwarted” efforts to scrutinize its admissions practices, which critics claim may still be discriminatory. The department argues that the university's refusal to comply is a significant issue; Harmeet Dhillon, head of the Civil Rights Division, stated, If Harvard has stopped discriminating, it should happily share the data necessary to prove it.
Harvard has yet to publicly respond to these allegations. The lawsuit is part of a broader conflict between the Trump administration and the university, which has seen the school face significant funding cuts and sanctions for not meeting the administration's demands.
The Justice Department had commenced reviewing Harvard’s admissions procedures last April, coinciding with a series of demands aligned with Trump’s anti-affirmative action stance. Specifically, Harvard was asked to submit five years' worth of admissions data, including grades, test scores, and demographic information, by April 25, 2025. However, the lawsuit claims that Harvard has failed to provide this data.
Justice officials contend that this information is vital to ascertain whether the university continues to consider race in its admissions decisions. The controversy over affirmative action, especially in prestigious universities, was reignited after the Supreme Court's ruling in 2023 prohibiting such practices.
The Trump administration has accused various colleges, including Harvard, of perpetuating biases against white and Asian American students through affirmative action policies. In a parallel move, the White House is urging universities nationwide to furnish similar data to assess whether they remain compliant with the Supreme Court's guidelines.
Last summer, the conflict seemed to be winding down with talks of restoring Harvard's federal funding. However, tensions flared again recently when Trump demanded Harvard pay $1 billion as part of any future agreement, significantly raising his previous demand.
The ongoing legal battle highlights the contentious nature of race and admissions policies in America today, pitting the federal government against one of the country’s most prestigious academic institutions.
