Federal Judge Dismisses Trump Administration's Effort to Hold Harvard Accountable for Antisemitism
Select a version of the text written from a presumed ideological perspective. This is not the original text, but a hypothetical version — how someone with that viewpoint might have phrased it. Tapping the current version again will return to the original or select cleaned version.
U.S. District Judge Richard G. Stearns dismissed a lawsuit by the Trump administration that sought to protect Jewish students at Harvard from harassment, ruling that the Justice Department did not prove a continuing civil-rights violation. The decision comes amid ongoing concerns about elite universities failing to address antisemitism.
A Boston federal judge on Thursday dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Trump administration, which alleged that Harvard University failed to protect Jewish students from harassment. Judge Richard G. Stearns ruled that the government could not demonstrate a persistent violation of federal civil-rights law, describing the incidents cited as 'too isolated and episodic.' This decision raises serious questions about whether elite institutions are being held to account for their treatment of Jewish students.
The case, initiated in March, focused on events from the 2023-24 academic year and a few from March 2025. The Trump administration had sought to recover billions of dollars in federal research grants awarded to Harvard since October 2023, using Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to ensure universities do not discriminate or ignore harassment.
'We disagree with the ruling and are assessing next steps,' said Harmeet Dhillon, assistant attorney general for civil rights at the Department of Justice, signaling the administration's commitment to defending the rights of Jewish students.
Harvard did not immediately comment on the decision. In earlier statements, the university claimed it 'cares deeply about members of our Jewish and Israeli community' and is committed to their well-being. President Alan M. Garber noted that Harvard created a task force to address antisemitism, hired new senior administrators, and revised discipline policies, but critics argue these measures are insufficient given the ongoing issues.
The lawsuit is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to force accountability at Harvard after the university refused to comply with a list of demands from the White House. Previous litigation resulted in a judge ordering the administration to reverse more than $2.6 billion in funding cuts, after finding the White House had imposed unconstitutional conditions on federal aid, highlighting the ongoing battle over political influence in higher education.