The U.S. government has filed a lawsuit against Harvard University, accusing the institution of failing to protect Jewish and Israeli students from harassment and discrimination, and is seeking to recover billions of dollars in federal funding.
According to court filings, the lawsuit alleges Harvard was “deliberately indifferent” to hostility on campus and failed to enforce its own anti-discrimination policies when the victims were Jewish or Israeli students.
The case marks a significant escalation in the federal government’s crackdown on universities over alleged antisemitism, particularly following tensions linked to protests and campus unrest in recent years.
Officials argue that Harvard’s handling of these issues could make it ineligible for large amounts of taxpayer-funded support, including research grants and other federal funding streams.
The lawsuit follows earlier actions against the university, including funding freezes and investigations into campus policies. Harvard has previously denied wrongdoing and stated it is taking steps to address antisemitism and ensure student safety.
The case is part of a broader pattern, with multiple U.S. universities facing legal challenges over how they have handled allegations of antisemitism and campus protests tied to Middle East conflicts.
