Judge dismisses Trump administration’s Harvard lawsuit

A district judge on Monday dismissed a lawsuit the Trump administration brought against Harvard University to obtain more admissions data in its quest to determine if the university is still using affirmative action.

U.S. District Judge Myong Joun wrote the Justice Department did not take the proper procedural steps to obtain the admissions information before bringing the issue to court.

“I decide a limited question: whether the Government has adequately established, at this stage and on the materials properly considered, that it satisfied the prerequisites to judicial enforcement invoked in this complaint,” Joun said.

“The ruling does not determine whether Harvard has discriminated, whether the agencies may lawfully seek appropriately defined applicant-level data, or whether Harvard may ultimately be required to provide such data,” he added.

The Trump administration accused Harvard of withholding information it says it needs to determine whether the university was violating the Supreme Court’s ruling that affirmative action is no longer allowed in college admissions.

In response to the dismissal, the Trump administration vowed to file an amended complaint and keep the fight going.

“The Court dismissed the case without prejudice on a narrow pleading question and invited the United States to amend. We will do exactly that. Nothing in the ruling changes the core problem: Harvard continues to refuse to provide the admissions information it is required to produce as a recipient of federal funds under Title VI,” a spokesperson for the Justice Department said.

“The United States will file an amended complaint and continue to hold Harvard to its obligations,” the spokesperson added.

Harvard argues the information it provided was substantial before the Trump administration sued.

The Hill has reached out to the school for further comment.

“Because the deficiency may be cured by additional administrative steps or by an adequately supported pleading identifying compliance with the applicable prerequisites, dismissal without prejudice is appropriate,” the judge wrote. “Whether a later action rests on steps already taken or steps taken after this dismissal is a matter for examination on that action’s record.”

But the ruling means another loss in the Trump administration’s efforts to target Harvard through legal action.

The administration previously tried to block federal funding from Harvard and take away its ability to enroll foreign students, both of which failed in the courts.