A federal judge in Boston has dismissed a lawsuit brought by the Trump administration that sought to compel Harvard University to hand over detailed records regarding its student admissions process. The Department of Justice had argued that access to years of applicant data was necessary to ensure the university is complying with a 2023 Supreme Court ruling that banned race-conscious admissions programs and adheres to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.
US District Judge Myong Joun ruled on Monday that the government failed to follow proper legal procedures before filing the suit. Specifically, Joun noted that the Justice Department did not sufficiently demonstrate that it had taken all required steps to secure voluntary compliance from the university or clearly warn Harvard of impending litigation should they refuse. Because these administrative prerequisites were missing, the judge found the current case lacked the necessary procedural footing to move forward.
The decision comes amid an escalating conflict between the White House and the Ivy League institution. Harvard’s legal team characterized the probe as part of a retaliatory campaign aimed at forcing changes to its governance and academic programs after President Trump accused the school of harboring radical left ideologies. This latest clash follows several other legal victories for Harvard, which successfully blocked previous attempts by the administration to pull billions in grants or restrict international students.
While this represents a win for the university, Judge Joun clarified that his ruling does not settle whether Harvard actually discriminated in its admissions or if it will ultimately be forced to provide the requested data. He emphasized that his decision rested on narrow grounds, leaving the door open for the Justice Department to refile a similar case once it fulfills the mandatory administrative requirements.
