The administration of President Donald Trump has filed a lawsuit against Harvard University in the United States, US, accusing the institution of fostering a hostile environment for Jewish and Israeli students during pro-Palestinian protests between 2023 and 2025.
The action is part of a broader campaign by Donald Trump targeting major US universities, which he claims have permitted pro-Palestinian activism to go unchecked amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza — behavior he equates with antisemitism.
Earlier in February, the US department of justice filed a similar lawsuit against University of California Los Angeles, signaling an expanded federal focus on campus conduct.
The department of justice alleges that Harvard’s leadership failed to address antisemitism and discrimination, accusing the university of neglecting its own rules during demonstrations.
According to the complaint, anti-Israeli protesters were allowed to occupy campus areas, including libraries, and maintain an encampment for roughly 20 days in violation of university policies.
Harvard strongly rejected the claims.
The university said it remains committed to safeguarding Jewish and Israeli students and has taken substantive, proactive steps to combat antisemitism, including enhanced training programs and initiatives designed to foster civil dialogue and respectful debate across campus.
The Trump administration is asking a Massachusetts court to declare Harvard in breach of its federal obligations, which could result in the withdrawal of millions of dollars in government funding and the repayment of previously allocated funds.
This lawsuit marks another escalation in the ongoing standoff between the US federal government and Harvard.
In September, a federal judge ruled in Harvard’s favor, ordering the government to lift a $2.6 billion funding freeze.
Although earlier discussions suggested a possible settlement of around $500 million, Trump later indicated he was seeking up to $1 billion in damages, intensifying the dispute further.
The case underscores growing tensions in the US over campus free speech, protest rights, and the handling of politically sensitive issues such as the Israel-Gaza conflict.
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