Federal Judge Dismisses Trump DOJ Lawsuit for Harvard Admissions Data

A federal judge on Monday dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Trump administration’s Department of Justice seeking Harvard University’s admissions records, marking another legal setback in the administration’s ongoing battle with the university over its admissions policies.

Details of the Lawsuit and Judge’s Ruling

The Department of Justice sued Harvard in February, accusing the university of refusing to comply with a federal investigation into its admissions decisions and demanding records to confirm the university had ceased using affirmative action. The Department of Education later joined the investigation. However, U.S. District Judge Myong Joun dismissed the case, citing the DOJ’s failure to follow required procedural steps before filing the lawsuit. Specifically, Judge Joun wrote, “Before taking enforcement action under the statutory framework, the agency must advise the recipient of its failure to comply and determine that compliance cannot be secured by voluntary means.”

The dismissal was without prejudice, allowing the government to refile the case after meeting the proper prerequisites. The judge clarified, “I decide a limited question: whether the Government has adequately established, at this stage and on the materials properly considered, that it satisfied the prerequisites to judicial enforcement invoked in this complaint.”

Government and Harvard Responses

In a statement to Newsweek, Education Department spokesperson Ellen Keast condemned Harvard’s admissions practices, saying, “Harvard’s rampant discrimination against teenage applicants was well-documented in a landmark Supreme Court case that will forever attach Harvard’s name to the illegal use of race preferences.” She criticized the judge’s ruling as shielding Harvard from accountability and reaffirmed the Trump administration’s commitment to ensure Harvard complies with the law, stating students should be judged on merit rather than race.

Newsweek attempted to contact both the DOJ and Harvard for comment outside regular hours but had not received a response at the time of reporting.

Broader Legal Context and Challenges

This dismissal is the latest in a series of legal challenges faced by the Trump administration in its efforts to challenge affirmative action and related policies at Harvard. Previous cases have included disputes over billions in funding cuts and accusations of antisemitism against the university. Harvard’s refusal to comply with various demands from the Trump administration concerning campus protests, academics, and admissions practices has intensified the conflict.

The lawsuit over admissions data is part of a larger federal effort to end the consideration of race in college admissions following the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision barring affirmative action but allowing race to be considered in certain contexts when applicants disclose it themselves.

Data Requests and Compliance Review

The DOJ’s compliance review requested five years of admissions data from Harvard, covering undergraduate applicants as well as those applying to Harvard’s medical and law schools. The data sought include applicants’ grades, test scores, essays, extracurricular activities, admissions outcomes, and racial and ethnic information. The DOJ contended Harvard had not provided this data, which is necessary to determine whether the university continues to consider race in admissions decisions.

Related Nationwide Legal Battles

Separately, in March, 17 Democratic attorneys general sued the Trump administration over a Department of Education policy requiring colleges nationwide to submit data proving they do not consider race in admissions. This lawsuit challenges the agency’s authority and the rushed implementation of the policy, arguing it threatens student privacy and targets diversity efforts without sufficient preparation time.

A federal judge in April granted a preliminary injunction against the policy’s enforcement, citing the chaotic rollout despite acknowledging the government’s likely authority to collect the data. New York Attorney General Letitia James praised the injunction, stating, “I am grateful the court acted swiftly to protect our public institutions while our case moves forward, and we will continue fighting to block this mandate for good.”

Monday’s dismissal by Judge Joun reflects the complex and ongoing legal battles surrounding affirmative action and racial considerations in higher education admissions under the Trump administration’s direction.