🚨 The Trump administration escalated its clash with academia this week by filing a federal lawsuit against Harvard University. The Justice Department alleges the Ivy League school failed to fully cooperate with an investigation into whether it illegally considered race in admissions—a hot-button issue since the Supreme Court banned race-conscious policies three years ago.
💼 This legal drama comes just weeks after President Trump threatened to withhold $1 billion in federal funds from Harvard. While the administration claims it’s simply seeking compliance with document requests, Harvard calls it "retaliatory" overreach. "We won’t surrender our independence," a spokesperson fired back.
📜 At stake: thousands of pages of admissions records and communications about diversity programs. The DOJ wants to check if Harvard’s practices align with the landmark 2023 Supreme Court ruling—a decision that reshaped college admissions nationwide.
🔥 Tensions have been simmering for months. Last year, the administration tried to cancel research grants over campus harassment concerns, prompting Harvard to countersue. With both sides dug in, this legal battle could drag through 2026’s election season.
🎓 Students and academics are watching closely. As one senior tweeted: ‘First they came for DEI programs…’ Will other universities be next? 📉
