Judge Dismisses Trump Suit Against Harvard Over Antisemitism Claims

A federal judge in Massachusetts dismissed a Trump administration lawsuit against Harvard University, which accused the school of failing to protect Jewish and Israeli students from harassment. U.S. District Judge Richard Stearns ruled that the incidents cited were 'too isolated and episodic' to support federal civil rights violations.

The judge's four-page order granted Harvard's motion to dismiss the suit, stating that the government's complaint was 'devoid of any factual allegations' occurring after the Trump administration notified Harvard of its failure to comply with federal civil rights law. The incidents mentioned in the complaint occurred between 2023 and 2024.

The Justice Department filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Harvard in March, alleging that the university violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act by failing to protect students after the Oct. 7, 2023 terror attack by Hamas. The administration sought to recover billions of dollars in taxpayer money that Harvard had received from federal agencies.

Harvard President Alan M. Garber stated that the university formed a task force to combat antisemitism and implemented new policies to make disciplinary actions 'more consistent, fair, and effective.'

The lawsuit was part of a broader clash between the Trump administration and Harvard University. According to Reuters, the administration has taken several steps against the university, including attempting to cancel billions of dollars in federal funding. In December, the administration appealed a judge's order that found it unlawfully terminated more than $2 billion in grants awarded to Harvard.

The Justice Department responded to the ruling by stating they 'disagreed with the ruling and are assessing next steps.' The statement also pointed to an ongoing antisemitism investigation by the DOJ's Civil Rights Division. Both Harvard University and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment, as reported by CBS News.

The lawsuit was one of many actions taken by the Trump administration in response to how top universities responded to pro-Gaza protests amid Israel’s war in Gaza. According to Al Jazeera, the administration has repeatedly claimed administrators did not adequately protect students against anti-Jewish actions during these demonstrations. Protest organizers have rejected this premise, arguing that the administration conflates criticism of Israel with antisemitism.

Harvard's defiant approach contrasts with other universities like Columbia and Northwestern, which reached multimillion-dollar settlements to preserve funding amid similar allegations. Critics note the emphasis on antisemitism coincides with immigration enforcement targeting pro-Palestinian advocates. A 2025 report by the American Association of University Professors accused the Trump administration of weaponizing civil rights law to stifle free speech on campuses.