A federal judge dismissed the Trump administration’s $2.6 billion antisemitism lawsuit against Harvard University, ruling that isolated incidents on campus did not prove systemic violations of civil rights law. The decision marks a setback for the administration’s broader campaign against elite universities, which Harvard has repeatedly called an overreach of government power.
U.S. District Judge Richard G. Stearns, a Clinton appointee, dismissed the case on August 13, 2026, after finding the Trump administration failed to demonstrate that Harvard had persistently violated the law
regarding antisemitism. The lawsuit, filed in March 2025, accused Harvard of fostering a climate where Jewish students faced harassment, physical assaults, and anti-Israel slurs, particularly in the aftermath of the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. The administration sought to halt $2.6 billion in federal grants and recover past payments.
Judge’s Rationale: Isolated Incidents Fall Short
Stearns ruled that the Trump administration’s allegations were too isolated and episodic
to justify the claim that Harvard violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. The judge noted that most of the cited incidents occurred during the 2023–2024 academic year, more than two years before the lawsuit was filed. He also highlighted that the administration could only point to three additional discrimination cases in the prior two years, which he deemed insufficient to prove institutionalized noncompliance.
The judge further rejected the administration’s demand to claw back grants, stating that the alleged violations could not be tied to events after June 30, 2025, when the Trump administration formally notified Harvard of its concerns. There is no plausible allegation of noncompliance following statutory notice,
Stearns wrote. The ruling aligns with a previous decision by Judge Allison D. Burroughs in September 2025, who found the administration had unlawfully cut $3 billion in grants to Harvard, citing antisemitism as a “smokescreen” for political pressure.
Reactions and Implications
Harvard, which has acknowledged past failures to address antisemitism, argued the lawsuit was a continuation of the Government’s ongoing campaign of retaliation
for its refusal to comply with policy demands. The university cited a 300-page report by its Presidential Task Force on Combating Antisemitism and Anti-Israeli Bias, which detailed sustained, institution-wide efforts
to address the issue. In the over two and a half years since, Harvard has engaged in sustained, institution-wide efforts to identify and address antisemitism on campus,
the university stated in court filings.
Reactions within Harvard’s community were mixed. Anurima Bhargava, a Harvard alumna and former top civil rights lawyer in the Justice Department, noted that while antisemitism exists on campuses, proving violations of federal law requires a very rigorous process.
She criticized the Trump administration for relying on Harvard’s own self-reporting to build its case, adding that the university’s actions don’t rise to the level that the Trump administration is claiming.
Context and Legal Precedent
The dismissal comes amid a broader legal battle between the Trump administration and Harvard, which has included multiple lawsuits and on-and-off negotiations. The administration had previously accused Harvard of being deliberately indifferent
to antisemitism, citing instances where students were spit on in the face for wearing a yarmulke, stalked on campus, and jeered by peers with calls of ‘Heil Hitler.’
Harvard countered that these claims were exaggerated and that the administration’s focus on antisemitism was a tactic to undermine the university’s autonomy.
The ruling also highlights tensions over federal funding and academic freedom. Harvard has long argued that the administration’s threats to withhold grants constitute an overreach of power, violating the First Amendment. The university’s legal team emphasized that federal law requires compliance with Title VI, not specific governmental demands.
What’s Next?
For now, the case ends without a ruling on Harvard’s compliance with civil rights law, leaving unresolved questions about how institutions balance free speech, campus safety, and federal oversight. The decision may also influence future litigation, as the Justice Department continues to prioritize antisemitism enforcement.
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