Trump Administration Sues Harvard University over Alleged Antisemitism

Washington (ANTARA) - The Trump administration on Friday (20/3) sued Harvard University over allegations of antisemitism, marking an escalation from the federal government after months of negotiations between the two parties reached a deadlock.

The lawsuit, filed in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, accuses the Ivy League university of violating the civil rights of Jewish and Israeli individuals and “turning a blind eye” to antisemitism and discrimination against Jewish and Israeli people.

Jewish and Israeli students have experienced severe, widespread, and objectively offensive harassment based on their race or national origin, and they have been excluded from participation and denied the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of education at Harvard because of their race, ethnicity, or national origin, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit also states that Harvard had actual knowledge and “deliberately disregarded” acts of harassment and exclusion against Jewish and Israeli students, and “intentionally” discriminated against Jewish and Israeli people.

Since January 2025, the US government has issued threats to several US universities, warning of potential funding cuts if they fail to adjust their policies. The main demands include the elimination of what is described as antisemitism on campus and the revocation of diversity initiatives that prioritise certain minority groups.

In April 2025, after Harvard rejected the US government’s demands, the government announced it would freeze multi-year grant funding of $2.2 billion USD (1 USD = Rp16,969) and multi-year contract funding of $60 million USD for the university.

In February, US President Donald Trump announced that his administration was seeking damages of $1 billion USD from Harvard University.