The US Department of Justice has initiated legal action against Harvard University, alleging the institution failed to submit documents related to an investigation into racial discrimination in its admissions process. This lawsuit represents the latest legal confrontation between the Trump administration and the prestigious Ivy League university.

The complaint, filed on Friday in a federal court in Boston, asserts that Harvard has not provided the government with the necessary documents and information over the past ten months to verify its compliance with federal civil rights laws. The US government stated that this investigation originated from a compliance review commenced in April 2025.

"Under President Trump's leadership, the Department of Justice is demanding better from our nation's educational institutions," Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement. "Harvard's failure to disclose the data we require to ensure its admissions process is free from discrimination is unacceptable—we will continue to fight to prioritize merit-based admissions over diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives across the United States."

Harvard University did not immediately respond to a request for comment.