A federal judge dismissed the Trump administration’s lawsuit against Harvard University on Monday, ruling the Justice Department failed to meet required legal procedures before seeking the school’s admissions data.
Judge Dismisses DOJ Lawsuit
U.S. District Judge Myong Joun dismissed the Trump administration’s suit on Monday, ruling the Justice Department did not show it followed required pre‑litigation procedures before demanding Harvard’s applicant‑level admissions records.
The judge noted the complaint failed to allege that officials warned Harvard of impending litigation or identified a specific compliance failure, undermining the case’s legal footing.
Administrative Response and Retaliation Claims
Harvard’s counsel said the lawsuit reflects a broader retaliatory push by the Trump administration after the university resisted demands to overhaul its governance and academic policies, according to Reuters.
The administration had previously announced a freeze of more than $2 billion in federal grants and contracts after Harvard refused to comply with antisemitism‑related demands.
Background on the Investigation
The Justice Department filed the suit in February, accusing Harvard of violating the Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling that bars race‑based considerations in college admissions.
Federal officials repeatedly requested Harvard to provide individualized admissions data, warning that non‑compliance could trigger enforcement action.
Next Steps
The dismissal was issued without prejudice, meaning the administration may refile the suit after correcting the procedural gaps identified by the court.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Justice Department, the Department of Education and Harvard for comment; responses were pending at press time.
