Judge Rules Against Trump Administration in Harvard Data Fight

Federal courts have long served as a battleground for disputes over how much personal data universities must share with government agencies.

A federal judge in Boston dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Trump administration that sought to force Harvard University to turn over specific admissions documents. The decision, issued Monday by Judge Myong J. Joun, grants Harvard’s motion to dismiss the case.

The administration filed the suit in February, accusing Harvard of hindering a federal review of its admissions procedures. The government argued that the university withheld documents it deemed necessary, including application essays written by individual students. The suit claimed Harvard slowed the pace of production and refused to provide data related to applicant-level admissions decisions.

In the order, Judge Joun wrote that the administration failed to clear the procedural hurdles required to obtain a court order for the materials. The ruling clarifies that the dismissal does not determine whether Harvard discriminated or whether the government may lawfully seek defined applicant-level data in the future. The judge noted that Harvard may still be required to provide such data.

Harvard argued in court filings that the administration’s demands exceeded appropriate bounds. The university described the lawsuit as part of an ongoing campaign by the Trump administration to force Harvard into negotiations. The school maintained that it has complied with federal law in its admissions processes.

Neither Harvard nor Trump administration officials immediately responded to requests for comment on Monday.