Justice Department Sues Harvard Over Admissions Data

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The Trump administration is suing Harvard University, alleging the school has refused to provide admissions records the Justice Department demanded to ensure Harvard stopped using affirmative action in its admissions process. The lawsuit claims Harvard has "thwarted" efforts to investigate potential discrimination, and the Justice Department is asking a judge to order the university to turn over the requested data.

Why it matters

This lawsuit is the latest development in an ongoing standoff between the Trump administration and Harvard over the university's use of affirmative action in admissions. The administration has accused Harvard and other colleges of continuing to factor race into admissions decisions, which it says discriminates against white and Asian American students.

The details

The Justice Department opened a compliance review into Harvard's admissions practices last April, the same day the White House issued a series of demands aligned with Trump's priorities. The agency told Harvard to hand over five years of admissions data, including applicants' grades, test scores, essays, extracurricular activities, and admissions outcomes, along with their race and ethnicity. Harvard has not provided that data, according to the lawsuit.

• The Justice Department opened a compliance review into Harvard's admissions practices in April 2025.
• The agency told Harvard to provide the requested data by April 25, 2025.

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide whether to order Harvard to turn over the requested admissions data.