Federal Judge Dismisses DOJ Lawsuit Against Harvard Over Antisemitism Claims

A federal judge dismissed the Department of Justice's discrimination lawsuit against Harvard University on August 13, 2026, stating that the instances of antisemitism at the university were too "isolated and episodic" to warrant the case. U.S. District Judge Richard Stearns noted that the lawsuit, which primarily focused on the 2023-24 academic year, did not demonstrate a plausible inference of ongoing noncompliance with federal antidiscrimination laws at Harvard. The complaint highlighted incidents of alleged discrimination against Jewish and Israeli students following the October 7, 2023 attacks, including verbal harassment and physical assaults. Judge Stearns pointed out that only three of the reported incidents occurred after the start of the 2023-24 academic year. The lawsuit was filed under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination in programs receiving federal funding. Harvard receives over $600 million annually in federal research grants, although this funding has been threatened by changes from the Trump administration. Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon expressed disagreement with the ruling and indicated that the Justice Department is investigating antisemitism nationwide. The Trump administration may appeal the dismissal to the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The lawsuit is part of a broader initiative by the Trump administration to address antisemitism in universities, which some critics argue is an attempt to retaliate against academic freedom.