President Donald Trump’s Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against Harvard University, alleging discrimination. Harmeet Dhillon, the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, shared a video on social media announcing this legal action. She claimed that Harvard has allowed serious instances of racial and ethnic abuse against Israeli and Jewish students since the devastating Hamas attack in Israel on October 7, 2023.
According to Harvard, “pro-Palestinian protesters” occupied the campus, hindering Israeli and Jewish students from attending classes. Dhillon remarked that while Harvard has rules regarding student conduct, these rules seem to have been loosened for certain protesters.
“All American universities that receive federal funding need to follow federal law,” she said. The Justice Department has accused Harvard of breaching Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by permitting anti-Semitic actions from “mobs of students, faculty, and visitors” that harass and intimidate Jewish and Israeli students.
The Justice Department indicated that Harvard is set to receive $2.6 billion from taxpayer funds through active grants from the Department of Health and Human Services. Attorney General Pam Bondi mentioned that many educational institutions, including Harvard, have permitted anti-Semitism to thrive on their campuses since the October attack, emphasizing the lawsuit’s aim to promote positive changes and eradicate harmful discrimination in schools.
Harvard recently reported a $113 million deficit for fiscal year 2025, marking its first operational loss since 2020. This financial setback follows President Trump’s decision to withhold federal research funding, accusing the university of neglecting its responsibilities to counter anti-Semitic harassment.
In response to the lawsuit, Harvard stated that it values its Jewish and Israeli community members and is committed to ensuring they feel accepted and respected on campus. The university highlighted various proactive steps it has taken to combat anti-Semitism, including rigorous enforcement of anti-harassment policies, increased training on anti-Semitism for students and staff, and initiatives that foster respectful dialogue both inside and outside the classroom.
Harvard plans to rigorously defend itself against what it calls a retaliatory action from an administration that seems intent on undermining the institution.
