# Trump administration legal disputes with Harvard University > Developing situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/trump-administration-legal-disputes-with-harvard-university > Updated: 2026-11-02T21:03:51.000Z. Sources: 17. Developments: 2. The Trump administration has engaged in multiple legal actions against Harvard University involving federal funding and admissions practices. In October 2026, a federal appeals court began reviewing a dispute over more than $2 billion in research grants. This follows a district court ruling that restored the funds after determining the administration’s cuts were illegal retaliation for the university’s refusal to meet specific governance and policy demands. The government maintains it has the right to withhold funding to ensure universities address antisemitism on campus, while Harvard’s legal team characterized the actions as “retaliatory discrimination.” In November 2026, a federal judge in Boston dismissed a separate lawsuit brought by the Department of Justice. The administration had sought to compel Harvard to release detailed student admissions records as part of a civil rights investigation into compliance with Supreme Court rulings on race in admissions. U.S. District Judge Myong Joun ruled the suit must be dismissed on procedural grounds, noting the government failed to adequately attempt to secure voluntary compliance or notify the university of potential litigation before seeking court intervention. The ruling does not determine whether Harvard has discriminated or if the government is entitled to the data. Harvard has described these legal efforts as part of a broader campaign to target Ivy League institutions. ## Claims - US District Judge Myong J. Joun dismissed the DOJ's lawsuit against Harvard University. (reported by 17 sources) - The DOJ filed the lawsuit in February 2026. (reported by 17 sources) - The lawsuit sought admissions records to investigate if Harvard still considers race in admissions. (reported by 17 sources) - The judge ruled the DOJ did not take all legally required steps to seek voluntary compliance. (reported by 17 sources) - The investigation aims to determine if Harvard is complying with the 2023 Supreme Court decision regarding race in admissions. (reported by 17 sources) - Harvard lawyers claim the lawsuit is retaliation for refusing to adopt the administration's ideological agenda. (reported by 7 sources) - The investigation involves Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. (reported by 3 sources) - The government sought applicant-level data including academic qualifications and standardized test scores. (reported by 3 sources) - The dismissal was without prejudice, allowing the government to refile. (reported by 2 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-11-02: Harvard University wins dismissal of DOJ admissions records lawsuit A federal judge dismissed a DOJ lawsuit seeking Harvard University admissions data, ruling the government skipped required procedural steps to seek voluntary compliance. 17 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/harvard-university-wins-dismissal-of-trump-administration-admissions-lawsuit ### 2026-10-05: Harvard University federal funding dispute reaches appeals court The First U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is weighing whether the Trump administration can legally withhold billions in research grants from Harvard University over disputes regarding campus antisemitism and way- 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/harvard-university-federal-funding-dispute-reaches-appeals-court --- Cite as: Trump administration legal disputes with Harvard University. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/trump-administration-legal-disputes-with-harvard-university