Federal Judge Dismisses Trump Administration's Lawsuit Against Harvard Over Alleged Antisemitic Harassment

A U.S. District Judge in Boston dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Trump administration that accused Harvard University of failing to safeguard Jewish and Israeli students from harassment. The judge said the complaint did not demonstrate a continuing violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, noting that most alleged incidents occurred during protests over the Gaza conflict in the 2023-2024 academic year and that later reports were too isolated to support a claim of ongoing discrimination.

The administration had argued that Harvard was not complying with federal anti-discrimination rules and sought to recover taxpayer subsidies it said were awarded to a discriminatory institution. Harvard denied the allegations, stating that it condemns antisemitism and is committed to providing a harassment-free environment for all students.

The ruling follows previous legal battles between the government and Harvard, including a blocked effort to cut the university’s research funding and a separate case limiting the administration’s ability to restrict enrollment of international students. The White House and Harvard did not immediately comment on the decision.