Harvard Denies DOJ Claims It Hasn't Complied With Investigations

The Ivy League school insists it has been 'responding to the government's inquiries in good faith.'

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Harvard University has responded to a Department of Justice (DOJ) lawsuit over demands for the school to hand over its admissions data, denying claims made by the government. The university says it has been cooperating with the government's inquiries and will continue to defend itself against what it calls 'retaliatory actions' by the DOJ.

Why it matters

This dispute between Harvard and the DOJ is the latest development in the ongoing debate over affirmative action in college admissions. The Supreme Court's 2023 decision to scrap affirmative action has led to increased scrutiny of admissions policies at elite universities like Harvard.

The details

The DOJ filed a lawsuit against Harvard, accusing the university of not complying with the administration's demand to hand over relevant records following the Supreme Court's 2023 decision. The DOJ is seeking a court order to compel Harvard to turn over the records. However, Harvard denies the DOJ's claims, stating that it has been 'responding to the government's inquiries in good faith' and will continue to defend itself against what it calls 'retaliatory actions'.

  • The DOJ filed the lawsuit against Harvard on February 15, 2026.
  • The Supreme Court's decision to scrap affirmative action in college admissions was handed down in 2023.

The players

Harvard University

An Ivy League institution that has faced scrutiny over its admissions policies in the wake of the Supreme Court's 2023 decision on affirmative action.

Department of Justice (DOJ)

The federal agency that has filed a lawsuit against Harvard, accusing the university of not complying with demands to hand over admissions data.

Harmeet Dhillon

The head of the DOJ's Civil Rights Division, who has stated that Harvard's alleged refusal to hand over data is problematic if the university has 'stopped discriminating'.

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What they’re saying

“Harvard has been responding to the government's inquiries in good faith and continues to be willing to engage with the government according to the process required by law.”

— Harvard University spokesperson (The Epoch Times)

“If Harvard has stopped discriminating, it should happily share the data necessary to prove it.”

— Harmeet Dhillon, Head of the DOJ's Civil Rights Division (The Epoch Times)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide whether to grant the DOJ's request to compel Harvard to turn over its admissions data.

The takeaway

This dispute highlights the ongoing tensions between the federal government and elite universities like Harvard over the issue of affirmative action in college admissions. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for how universities approach their admissions policies in the wake of the Supreme Court's 2023 decision.