The Trump administration has filed a federal lawsuit against Harvard University, accusing the Ivy League institution of failing to protect Jewish students from antisemitic harassment and discrimination on campus.
The lawsuit, filed on March 20, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, alleges that Harvard violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by creating a hostile environment for Jewish students and failing to take adequate steps to address widespread antisemitism following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza.
According to the complaint, Harvard “permitted and even encouraged” an environment in which Jewish students were subjected to harassment, intimidation, and exclusion, including chants of “from the river to the sea,” the blocking of Jewish students from certain campus spaces, and the disruption of classes and events. The suit claims university administrators repeatedly failed to enforce their own policies and turned a blind eye to antisemitic conduct.
The Trump administration argues that Harvard’s actions (or inactions) constitute deliberate indifference, violating the university’s obligations as a recipient of federal funding. The lawsuit seeks injunctive relief, including the appointment of an independent monitor, mandatory training, and policy reforms to ensure the protection of Jewish students.
Harvard University has strongly denied the allegations, stating that it takes antisemitism seriously and has implemented numerous measures to combat it. In a statement, the university said it would “vigorously defend itself” against what it described as a politically motivated lawsuit.
The case is the latest in a series of legal and congressional actions targeting elite universities over their handling of campus antisemitism since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war. It also reflects the Trump administration’s aggressive posture on combating antisemitism on college campuses.
The lawsuit comes as Harvard continues to face scrutiny from both federal agencies and private plaintiffs over its diversity, equity, and inclusion policies, admissions practices, and response to antisemitic incidents.
