Investigation Into Harvard’s Admissions Policies

The Department of Justice (DOJ) is currently reviewing Harvard University’s admissions policies to ensure compliance with a 2023 Supreme Court ruling. This investigation follows the university’s previous disregard for directives from the Trump administration, as noted by university officials.

A spokesperson for Harvard described the investigation as “another abusive and retaliatory action” from the current administration, claiming it targets the university for taking measures to protect itself against overreach in higher education.

The DOJ recently notified Harvard about this investigation in a letter, as reported by The New York Times. This review is being conducted under the False Claims Act, which examines whether the school’s admission process may have involved fraudulent activities regarding government funding.

Although false claims laws are not commonly applied to universities, violations can lead to significant financial penalties—potentially amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars.

The DOJ is also interested in having university officials provide testimony under oath about Harvard’s admissions practices, according to The Times.

In a ruling made in 2023, Republicans stated that positive discrimination in college admissions could no longer be practiced.

A Harvard spokesperson asserted, “Harvard continues to comply with the laws established in the Students for Fair Admissions decision. Since the Supreme Court ruling in June 2023, no institution has faced more scrutiny regarding changes to admissions practices than Harvard.” The spokesperson also mentioned that these changes have been implemented immediately following the ruling and that they have been widely reported.

Among the adjustments made by Harvard are new training protocols for application reviewers, which restrict access to applicants’ racial and ethnic data, as well as alterations to essay questions, shifting the focus from identity to personal experiences.

This investigation is part of a broader pattern of actions initiated by the Trump administration against Harvard, which has faced pressure to adjust its hiring and admissions processes. These actions have included suspending significant funding, revoking tax-exempt status, and threatening to impede access to new research grants.