Judge Dismisses Trump Administration Lawsuit Against Harvard University

U.S. District Judge Myong J. Joun dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Trump administration against Harvard University. The federal government initiated the legal action in February to compel the university to release admissions data, including student application essays, as part of a federal discrimination investigation.

The administration alleged that Harvard was obstructing the probe into whether the university complied with the court-ordered ban on affirmative action, accusing the school of withholding applicant-level data and slow-walking the production of documents. Harvard University defended its admissions processes as compliant with federal law and described the lawsuit as an attempt by the administration to force the university into negotiations.

Judge Joun ruled that the government failed to clear the necessary procedural hurdles to satisfy the court order for the materials. He noted that the ruling does not determine whether Harvard discriminated, whether agencies may lawfully seek applicant-level data, or if the university may eventually be required to provide such information.