The Trump administration is facing a legal setback in its Harvard admissions lawsuit, but that doesn’t mean it’s over yet.
U.S. District Judge Myong Joun tossed out the Department of Justice lawsuit against the university, which would have forced it to turn over admissions records as the department investigates potential race-based admissions practices.
In his 10-page opinion, the Biden-appointed judge argued that the current suit cannot proceed because the DOJ had not proved that it properly followed procedure before choosing to sue. The DOJ filed the lawsuit in February, accusing the Ivy League school of failing to “cooperate with a federal civil rights review examining whether the university’s admissions practices comply with the Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling limiting the use of race in college admissions,” Fox News reported.
The department claimed the school has dragged its feet on producing requested paperwork.
“The Government may be able to identify a qualifying determination or cure the procedural deficiency, but it has not supplied a sufficient basis for the judicial relief currently sought,” Joun wrote.
He did note that government officials have made repeated requests of the school and warned that Harvard could potentially face enforcement action if they continue to obstruct the process. However, he pointed out that the suit failed to state that the government had warned of its intent to sue if its demands weren’t met, and hadn’t articulated a specific compliance failure.
“Joun also found that the Department of Education had not sufficiently demonstrated that it followed its own required procedures before referring its separate admissions investigation for judicial enforcement,” Fox wrote. “Harvard’s attorneys argued that the lawsuit was part of a broader retaliatory campaign by the Trump administration after the university resisted demands for changes to its governance and academic policies, according to Reuters.”
The judge did not rule on these claims, opting to stick to matters of procedure rather than the actual substance of the claims and counterclaims.
Joun dismissed the lawsuit without prejudice, allowing the DOJ to file the lawsuit again in the future. It appears that they will have to address the issues laid out in the judge’s ruling before it will be heard, which may take several more months.
X users reacted:
Stop saying federal…it’s Biden judge or Obama judge.
— Anthony Talarico 🫡 🇺🇸 (@atalarico1970) November 2, 2026
higher ed should abandon their commitment to racism and follow civil rights law
— Jiggle Billy (@JiggleBill74640) November 2, 2026
So basically THEY HAVE been racially discriminating against applicants (cause if they weren’t they would cooperate no problem) and rogue democratic judges are ALLOWING IT. 💯😡
— Rebecca Looney (@erinrebecca317) November 2, 2026
I’m so sick of the judicial activists. Something has to change
— Ultra MEGA MAGA Boss Lady (@AmericanGal2021) November 3, 2026
Wow, you would think our country is run by federal judges. They do everything they can to prevent the president from doing what he was elected to do
— Midge (@TheFirstSal) November 2, 2026
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
Sierra Marlee is a millennial whose hunger for the truth in a world of fake news has led her to write. Marlee also contributes to BizPac Review.
- Harvard wins first round against Trump administration — but judge leaves door open for another lawsuit - November 3, 2026
- Supreme Court declines to intervene in California voter dispute — Trump administration’s challenge falls short - November 3, 2026
- Trump reveals his backup plan if Democrats sweep midterms — and it’s just one word: VETO - November 3, 2026
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.