In a press release on Friday, the Justice Department announced that it has filed suit in a Massachusetts federal district court against Harvard University for discrimination against Jewish and Israeli students in violation of Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. The 44-page complaint (full text) in United States v. President and Fellows of Harvard College, (D MA, filed 3/20/2026) alleges in part:
In the wake of Hamas’ October 7, 2023, terrorist attack on the State of Israel, Jewish and Israeli students at Harvard University were harassed, physically assaulted, stalked, and spat upon. For several years, Jewish and Israeli students endured a hostile educational environment. They were repeatedly denied access to educational facilities by antisemitic demonstrators. Fearful for their safety, Jewish students wore baseball caps to conceal their yarmulkes or kept out of sight, effectively denying them access to Federally funded educational opportunities.
Harvard’s response to this: do nothing. Its faculty and leadership turned a blind eye to antisemitism and discrimination against Jews and Israelis. Students and faculty violated Harvard’s time, place, and manner rules with impunity; rules that Harvard has and would enforce against anyone else.... Harvard fostered and continues to foster a campus climate where hostile antisemitism and anti-Israeli conduct thrives....
... Harvard has failed to enforce its rules or meaningfully discipline the mobs that occupy its buildings and terrorize its Jewish and Israeli students. Harvard instead rewarded students who assaulted, harassed, or intimidated their Jewish and Israeli peers.
Whenever Harvard accepts a grant from the United States, or seeks to draw funds, it certifies compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.... Harvard is currently set to receive more than $2,615,000,000 of taxpayer money under active federal grants from the Department of Health and Human Services alone (to say nothing of other agencies).... Harvard remains in violation of its Title VI obligations....
... The United States cannot and will not tolerate these failures and brings this action to compel Harvard to comply with Title VI, and to recover billions of dollars of taxpayer subsidies awarded to a discriminatory institution.
