Judge tosses Trump administration lawsuit against Harvard over alleged discrimination

A federal judge in Boston has dismissed a Trump administration lawsuit that accused Harvard University of failing to protect Jewish students from discrimination and harassment. U.S. District Judge Richard G. Stearns issued the ruling on Thursday, August 13, 2026, finding that the administration did not provide sufficient evidence to demonstrate an ongoing violation of federal civil rights laws by the university.

The lawsuit, filed by the Trump administration in March, alleged that Harvard exhibited "deliberate indifference" to antisemitism, particularly during pro-Palestinian demonstrations following the October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas on Israel. The government sought to recover billions of dollars in federal research grants awarded to Harvard, arguing that the university violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

However, Judge Stearns determined that the incidents cited in the complaint, predominantly from the 2023-24 academic year with a few from March 2025, were "too isolated and episodic" to establish a persistent pattern of civil rights violations. The judge further noted that the amended complaint lacked factual allegations of Harvard's non-compliance after the university received formal notice under Title VI in June 2025. The Justice Department has expressed disagreement with the decision and stated it is evaluating its next steps.