Judge dismisses Trump administration lawsuit alleging antisemitism at Harvard

A federal judge in Boston dismissed the Trump administration's civil rights lawsuit against Harvard University on Thursday. U.S. District Judge Richard G. Stearns ruled that the administration "failed to prove an ongoing violation of federal civil rights laws."

The judge determined that the incidents cited in the March lawsuit were "too isolated and episodic" to establish a persistent civil rights violation. Most cases involved the 2023-24 academic year, with only a few from March 2025.

The Trump administration had accused Harvard of failing to protect Jewish students during pro-Palestinian demonstrations following Hamas's October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel. The government claimed Jewish students were "harassed, physically assaulted, stalked, and spat upon."

The lawsuit sought to recover billions in federal research grants awarded to Harvard since October 2023 under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Harmeet Dhillon, the Department of Justice's assistant attorney general for civil rights, responded: "We disagree with the ruling and are assessing next steps."

Harvard has implemented measures to address antisemitism, including establishing a task force and reforming discipline policies. The university previously stated it "cares deeply about members of our Jewish and Israeli community."

This dismissal follows a separate court ruling that reversed over $2.6 billion in funding cuts the administration had imposed on Harvard.