A federal judge in Boston dismissed the Trump administration’s multi-billion-dollar lawsuit against Harvard University that alleged the school failed to protect its Jewish students from discrimination, marking the latest development in their lengthy dispute over funding and academic independence.
US District Judge Richard G. Stearns, a Clinton appointee, wrote in a Thursday ruling the Trump administration had highlighted a handful of concerning incidents on Harvard’s campus but they were “too isolated and episodic” to justify the government’s claim that Harvard was in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.
The Trump administration had argued Harvard breached its contract with the federal government under Title IX, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color or national origin in programs that receive federal funding. To support its claim, the administration pointed to incidents of antisemitism on campus, including many in the immediate aftermath of the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
CNN reached out to Harvard Thursday afternoon for comment. The White House referred a request for comment to the Justice Department.
Harmeet Dhillon, the Justice Department’s assistant attorney general for civil rights, said the administration disagrees with the ruling and is assessing next steps.
