Signal Federal judge dismisses Trump administration's antisemitism lawsuit against Harvard

Summary

U.S. District Judge Richard G. Stearns in Boston dismissed the Trump administration's civil rights lawsuit against Harvard University on August 13, 2026. The suit, filed in March 2026, alleged Harvard's response to campus antisemitism following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack constituted 'deliberate indifference' and sought to cut off future federal funding and claw back nearly $1 billion in previously issued grants. Judge Stearns found the government's amended complaint relied almost entirely on incidents from the 2023-24 academic year plus three from March 2025, and lacked factual allegations showing ongoing noncompliance after Harvard received statutory notice. This case is separate from Harvard's funding lawsuit before Judge Allison Burroughs, in which the administration is separately appealing a ruling that found it unlawfully terminated over $2 billion in Harvard grants. The Justice Department said it disagrees with the ruling and is assessing next steps, while Harvard has characterized the suit as a 'pretextual and retaliatory action.'