The administration of Donald Trump has filed a lawsuit against Harvard University, accusing the institution of failing to protect Jewish and Israeli students and seeking to recover billions of dollars in federal funding.
Filed in federal court in Boston, the complaint alleges that Harvard was “deliberately indifferent” to harassment targeting Jewish and Israeli students and failed to enforce campus rules when they were the victims. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, this conduct effectively denied those students equal access to educational opportunities.
The lawsuit is part of a broader campaign by the Trump administration to push major U.S. universities to change their policies, particularly in response to what it describes as rising antisemitism and “radical left” ideologies on campus. The administration has previously threatened to withhold or reclaim federal funding from institutions it views as non-compliant.
Harvard strongly rejected the allegations, calling the lawsuit “pretextual and retaliatory.” A university spokesperson said the institution would vigorously defend itself in court and emphasized its commitment to supporting Jewish and Israeli members of its community.
The university also pointed to steps it has taken to address antisemitism, including expanding training programs, strengthening disciplinary procedures, and adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism.
The legal action invokes Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in programs receiving federal funding. The administration is seeking to recover grants awarded during periods of alleged noncompliance and to freeze future funding. It is also asking the court to appoint an independent monitor to oversee Harvard’s adherence to federal regulations.
