A federal judge in Massachusetts has dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Trump administration against Harvard University, which accused the institution of failing to safeguard Jewish and Israeli students from discrimination. The judge concluded that the incidents cited in the complaint were “too isolated and episodic” to substantiate claims of violations of federal civil rights laws.
U.S. District Judge Richard Stearns issued a four-page ruling that granted Harvard’s request to dismiss the case.
In his decision, Judge Stearns acknowledged the seriousness of the reported incidents but stated that they were insufficient to suggest any ongoing institutional failure to comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. He remarked, “The court finds them, singly and collectively, to be too isolated and episodic to support a plausible inference of persistent noncompliance at Harvard.”
Stearns highlighted that the allegations presented by the government lacked factual support for events occurring after the Trump administration alerted Harvard about its supposed noncompliance with civil rights laws, a necessary step prior to initiating legal action. Additionally, he noted that the other incidents mentioned in the lawsuit took place between 2023 and 2024.
The lawsuit was filed by the Justice Department in March, claiming that Harvard violated federal civil rights protections following the terror attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023. The administration accused the university of exhibiting “intentional conduct and deliberate indifference” towards harassment faced by Jewish and Israeli students, which allegedly created a hostile educational environment. Furthermore, the government sought to reclaim billions in federal funding awarded to Harvard.
The complaint asserted that Harvard had unlawfully discriminated against these students, subjecting them to “severe, pervasive and objectively offensive harassment” on campus, particularly during protests against Israel, based on their race or national origin. It was alleged that the university was aware of the harassment but failed to take appropriate action.
This lawsuit is part of a broader strategy by the Trump administration to challenge Harvard, which also includes attempts to revoke significant federal funding.
In response to the ruling, the Justice Department expressed its disagreement and indicated that it is evaluating possible next steps. The department also referenced an ongoing investigation into antisemitism by its Civil Rights Division.
Both Harvard and the White House have not yet provided comments regarding the ruling.
Melissa Quinn contributed to this report.
