The US Justice Department filed a lawsuit against Harvard University on February 12, 2026, alleging non-compliance with federal investigations into its admissions practices. This marks the latest escalation in a multi-year dispute between the Trump administration and the Ivy League institution regarding race-conscious admissions policies.
Court documents reveal investigators seek records to assess Harvard's adherence to the US Supreme Court's 2023 ruling declaring race-based college admissions unconstitutional. A Justice Department statement clarified the action aims solely to compel document production, not allege discrimination or seek financial penalties.
Harvard spokesperson Rachel Peterson countered: "We've engaged in good faith while protecting institutional independence. These retaliatory measures follow our refusal to capitulate to unconstitutional overreach."
The lawsuit follows failed negotiations over federal research grants threatened last year amid disputes about campus policies. Legal analysts note this confrontation reflects broader tensions between federal oversight and academic autonomy.
Observers anticipate the case could set precedents for how universities balance diversity initiatives with legal constraints. The outcome may particularly interest international students and researchers monitoring US education policy developments.
