The administration of Donald Trump has filed a lawsuit against Harvard University, accusing the school of violating civil rights laws by failing to address antisemitism on campus.

The US Justice Department filed the case in federal court in Massachusetts on Friday, marking a significant escalation in the long running dispute between the federal government and the elite university.

In the lawsuit, the Justice Department said: “The United States cannot and will not tolerate these failures and brings this action to compel Harvard to comply” with federal civil rights law, “and to recover billions of dollars of taxpayer subsidies awarded to a discriminatory institution.”

The case stems from a broader investigation into campus antisemitism that has evolved into a major legal and political standoff. The Trump administration has already slashed more than $2.6 billion in research funding, terminated federal contracts and attempted to block Harvard from admitting international students.

Harvard has pushed back strongly, filing its own lawsuits and arguing it is being unfairly targeted for resisting the administration’s demands. A federal judge previously ruled in the university’s favour, reversing funding cuts and describing the antisemitism justification as a “smokescreen.”

Despite intermittent negotiations, efforts to resolve the dispute have repeatedly stalled. Earlier talks reportedly included a proposal for Harvard to pay $500 million to restore funding access, but that figure later rose to $1 billion as tensions escalated.

The administration’s civil rights investigation concluded in June with a formal finding that Harvard had tolerated antisemitism. A federal task force described the university as a “willful participant” in antisemitic harassment of Jewish students and faculty, warning of imminent legal action if it failed to comply.

Harvard rejected the findings, stating: “Antisemitism is a serious problem and no matter the context, it is unacceptable.”

The university added: “Harvard has taken substantive, proactive steps to address the root causes of antisemitism in its community.”

Since returning to office, Trump has intensified scrutiny of elite universities, accusing them of promoting left wing ideology while failing to protect Jewish students. Several institutions have reached financial settlements with the administration, including Columbia University and Brown University, as part of efforts to restore federal funding.

The lawsuit against Harvard now sets the stage for a high stakes legal battle that could redefine federal authority over US higher education funding. (AriseNews TV)

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