Justice Department sues Harvard for data as it investigates how race factors into admissions

"WASHINGTON -- The Trump administration is suing Harvard University, saying it has refused to provide admissions records that the Justice Department demanded to ensure the Ivy League school stopped using affirmative action in admissions. In a lawsuit filed Friday in federal court in Massachusetts, the Justice Department said Harvard has "thwarted" efforts to investigate potential discrimination. It accused Harvard of refusing to comply with a federal investigation and asked a judge to order the university to turn over the records."

"Harmeet Dhillon, who leads the department's Civil Rights Division, said Harvard's refusal is a red flag. "If Harvard has stopped discriminating, it should happily share the data necessary to prove it," Dhillon said in a statement. A statement from Harvard said the university has been responding to the government's requests. It said Harvard is in compliance with the Supreme Court decision barring affirmative action in admissions."

The Justice Department filed a lawsuit seeking court orders to compel Harvard to turn over admissions records after alleging the university has thwarted a federal investigation into potential discrimination. The Civil Rights Division characterized Harvard's refusal to produce data as a red flag and said the records are necessary to verify compliance with anti-discrimination requirements. Harvard responded that it has been responding to government requests and is following the Supreme Court decision barring affirmative action. The lawsuit follows prior disputes with the administration, including funding threats, claims of campus bias, and ongoing appeals of earlier court rulings.

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