The U.S. Department of Justice on Friday filed a lawsuit against Harvard University, accusing the prestigious institution of violating federal civil rights law by failing to address anti-Semitism on campus.
The department stated in the lawsuit that the university exhibited "deliberate indifference" towards harassments targeting Jewish and Israeli students, and that it intentionally refrained from applying campus rules when the victims were Jewish or Israeli. The lawsuit further contends that this behavior sent a clear message to the Jewish and Israeli community at Harvard that they are effectively excluded and deprived of equal educational opportunities.
The Trump administration initiated the investigation into Harvard less than two weeks after taking office, according to the filing, which is based on actions taken before and after pro-Palestinian protests during the conflict between Israel and Hamas. The lawsuit claims that the university failed to discipline staff and students who participated in or tacitly supported the protests, such as canceling or postponing classes that conflicted with protest schedules.
Harvard responded by rejecting the government's conclusions since last summer, reaffirming its commitment to combating bias. The university stated in a release that anti-Semitism is a serious problem and is unacceptable under any circumstances, and it has taken proactive and practical steps to address the root causes of anti-Semitism in its community.
The administration learned that Harvard had formed a working group to counter anti-Semitism, according to a letter from University President Alan Garber to government officials last spring. Garber noted that the university had appointed a new vice president and revised its disciplinary policies to be more consistent, fair, and effective.
The administration's campaign against universities has expanded to include financial measures, as the White House has frozen billions of dollars in research grants upon which institutions rely for scientific and medical research. When it is established that an institution has violated civil rights law and no settlement is reached, the government may attempt to cut federal funding through administrative actions or refer the case to the Department of Justice as it did with Harvard.
Several universities have already reached agreements with the White House to restore their funding, some of which included direct payments to the government, such as $200 million from Columbia University, while Brown University agreed to pay $50 million to government workforce development groups.
Harvard and the Trump administration had entered negotiations, with reports indicating that the two sides had come close to an agreement that would require the university to pay $500 million to restore access to federal funding and halt investigations. Trump subsequently raised the demanded amount to $1 billion, deeming the university to be “acting very poorly.”
Ted Mitchell, president of the American Council on Education, described the administration's actions as a "comprehensive and multi-front" assault on Harvard, stating that repeated demands from those holding significant asks emerge when the intended pressures are not fulfilled.
Harvard has not issued a new comment following the filing of the lawsuit, nor did the Trump administration respond to requests for comment beyond what was stated in the lawsuit and previous statements.