Justice Department Takes Action Against Harvard Over Antisemitism Claims

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department filed a new lawsuit Friday against Harvard University, arguing that its leadership has failed to adequately address issues of antisemitism on campus. The legal action could lead to the freezing of existing federal grants and an effort to recoup previously distributed funds.

The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Massachusetts, marking another chapter in a long-standing conflict between the Trump administration and the prestigious university.

In the lawsuit, the Justice Department stated, The United States cannot and will not tolerate these failures and brings this action to compel Harvard to comply with federal civil rights laws and to recover billions of taxpayer dollars in subsidies awarded to a discriminatory institution.

Harvard University has yet to publicly respond to the lawsuit.

This legal action follows a series of stalled negotiations amid a protracted conflict between the Trump administration and Harvard, which has tested the extent of the government's power over American universities. What initially began as an investigation into antisemitism has since devolved into broader disputes related to federal funding, with the administration cutting more than $2.6 billion in research funding and attempting to prevent Harvard from hosting international students.

In previous lawsuits, Harvard argued that it was facing unfair penalties for its refusal to align with the administration's viewpoints. A federal judge sided with Harvard in December, reversing funding cuts and labeling the claims of antisemitism as a smokescreen.

Negotiations had suggested they were close to an agreement, with discussions revolving around Harvard potentially paying $500 million to regain access to federal funds. However, the Trump administration later escalated this figure to $1 billion, accusing Harvard of misbehavior.

These developments reflect a broader pattern, where Trump has actively targeted elite institutions perceived as swayed by leftist ideologies and antisemitic sentiments, resulting in federal funding being withheld.