The Justice Department escalated its year‑long probe into Harvard’s admissions practices, filing a lawsuit to compel the university to turn over applicant‑level records, the agency said. The filing alleges Harvard has “slow‑walked” production of documents needed to determine whether race played a role in admissions decisions. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon framed the action as compliance enforcement, not a merits charge. Harvard denied wrongdoing and said it has been cooperating. The dispute follows prior federal moves to scrutinize elite colleges, including threats to cut federal research funding and restrictions on hosting international students. For higher‑education leaders, the case signals intensified federal oversight of admissions and data demands that could strain legal budgets and institutional transparency practices. Institutions should expect faster, more aggressive records requests from federal civil‑rights enforcers and plan legal and governance responses accordingly.