Trump administration launches two more Harvard probes

The Trump administration's Education Department launched two civil rights investigations into Harvard University on Monday, alleging the institution violated Title VI by continuing to use affirmative action in admissions despite the Supreme Court's 2023 ban on the practice. The probes represent an escalation of the administration's regulatory pressure on Harvard, which has already faced multiple federal investigations and legal challenges in recent months. The investigations center on whether Harvard is unlawfully considering race in student selection, a core practice struck down by the high court in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard. The administration has signaled aggressive enforcement of the Supreme Court's decision across higher education, and Harvard—as the country's oldest and wealthiest university—has become a focal point for that effort. The outcome could determine whether Harvard and peer institutions must fundamentally restructure admissions processes to comply with federal civil rights law.