EEOC sues Harvard to obtain faculty hiring records in bias probe

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has sued Harvard in federal court in Massachusetts to enforce a subpoena for records on faculty hiring, including applicant data, hiring procedures and diversity programs. The records are sought in an investigation launched after an April 2025 charge alleged that Harvard’s practices discriminated against white, Asian, male or heterosexual applicants and employees; the EEOC says the university provided only partial records and resisted broader requests. Harvard says it has cooperated in good faith, hires and promotes on merit, and views the investigation as part of a retaliatory campaign by the Trump administration. The case adds to Harvard’s broader legal disputes with the federal government, including a separate fight over records related to admissions.