Judge dismisses Trump admin’s suit alleging Harvard failed to protect Jewish, Israeli students

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS: A federal judge in Boston dismissed the Trump administration’s lawsuit accusing Harvard University of failing to protect Jewish and Israeli students from discrimination and harassment. 

US District Judge Richard G Stearns ruled on Thursday, August 13, that the government had not plausibly demonstrated an ongoing violation of federal civil rights law. The decision marks another development in the administration’s broader dispute with Harvard over federal funding and university policies.

Judge says Trump admin failed to show civil rights violations were ongoing

Stearns said the administration’s case relied largely on incidents that occurred during the 2023-24 academic year, amid campus protests surrounding the Israel-Gaza conflict. The government also cited several incidents that occurred later, but the judge said those allegations did not establish a continuing violation.

The incidents cited by the administration included allegations that Jewish students were harassed and targeted on campus. The government had argued that Harvard was “deliberately indifferent” to discrimination against Jewish members of its community.

Stearns wrote that the incidents presented by the administration were “too isolated and episodic” to establish that Harvard was continuing to violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. The law prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in programs receiving federal funding.

Harmeet Dhillon, the Justice Department’s assistant attorney general for civil rights, said the administration disagreed with the ruling and was reviewing its options.

“The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division will not tolerate anti-Semitism on our federally-funded college campuses, and are evaluating our options. Harvard cannot get a free pass for its misconduct,” Dhillon wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

Harvard dispute continues as administration challenges university

The lawsuit was part of a broader conflict between the Trump administration and Harvard that has included disputes over federal grants, university governance and international students.

Harvard has denied the administration’s allegations and argued that the civil rights case was connected to the administration’s broader efforts to pressure the university. In a filing seeking dismissal, Harvard described the lawsuit as “another pretextual and retaliatory action by the administration” over the university’s refusal to comply with government demands.

The Ivy League school has also said it has taken steps to address antisemitism and anti-Israeli bias on campus. The university pointed to a 300-page report from its Presidential Task Force on Combating Antisemitism and Anti-Israeli Bias.

“Harvard condemns antisemitism and is committed to ensuring that Jewish and Israeli students, like all members of the Harvard community, can learn and participate fully in campus life free from harassment or exclusion,” the university said.

The Trump administration sought to halt over $2 billion in existing federal grants to Harvard and recover millions of dollars in previously awarded funding. The government argued that Harvard had allowed “a campus climate where hostile antisemitism and anti-Israeli conduct thrive.”