Justice Department Sues Harvard for Antisemitism Claims, Threatens Funding Freeze

Fri Mar 20 2026 18:11:05 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

The U.S. Justice Department has initiated a lawsuit against Harvard University, accusing it of not adequately confronting antisemitism on campus. The lawsuit raises potential consequences for the university's federal funding.

In a significant legal move, the Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against Harvard University, claiming the institution has neglected to address antisemitism on its campus. This situation may lead to a freeze on the university's federal grants and demands for the repayment of previously awarded funds. The ongoing tension between the Trump administration and the university has escalated as negotiations over funding and regulation have stalled.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department has filed a new lawsuit against Harvard University, asserting that the institution's administration failed to address antisemitism on campus, which could result in the freezing of existing federal grants and demands for repayment of prior funding.

The suit was filed in federal court in Massachusetts and is part of a long-standing battle between the Trump administration and the prestigious university, highlighting issues surrounding federal authority over universities.

The United States cannot and will not tolerate these failures and brings this action to compel Harvard to comply with federal civil rights law, the Justice Department stated, emphasizing the need to recover taxpayer funds from a university accused of discrimination.

Harvard has not yet responded publicly to the lawsuit. This legal action comes after lengthy negotiations appeared to falter in relations between the Trump administration and Harvard. Originally focused on an investigation into claims of antisemitism, the conflict intensified, resulting in cuts to more than $2.6 billion in research funding and efforts to prohibit the university from hosting international students.

In response to earlier legal efforts by the university, a federal judge sided with Harvard, reversing funding reductions and dismissing the government's antisemitism claims as a mere pretext.

Reports have suggested that negotiations were close to a breakthrough, with Harvard considering a $500 million payment to restore its federal funding. However, the Trump administration revised this amount to $1 billion, accusing Harvard of misconduct.

Since taking office, President Trump has targeted elite universities, alleging they harbor leftist ideologies and antisemitism, leading to substantial restrictions on federal support for research and education.