Judge Rules Against Trump Bid for Harvard Student Essays

A federal judge in Boston dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Trump administration that sought to compel Harvard University to release specific admissions records. The suit, initiated in February, demanded access to application essays and other applicant-level documents for a government discrimination review.

The administration argued that Harvard was slowing the production of records and withholding materials related to individual admissions decisions. In the complaint, officials stated that the university had stalled the pace of document delivery and refused to provide files necessary for the federal investigation.

Judge Myong J. Joun wrote in an order issued Monday that the government failed to meet specific procedural hurdles required to obtain a court order for those materials. The judge noted that the dismissal does not resolve whether Harvard engaged in discrimination or if agencies can lawfully request such data in the future.

Harvard contended in court filings that the demands exceeded what was necessary. The university described the lawsuit as part of a continuing effort by the administration to pressure it into negotiations. The school maintains that it has followed federal law in its admissions processes.

Both Harvard and Trump officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Monday. The next step in the legal process remains undetermined following the dismissal of this specific motion.