The United States Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against Harvard University, accusing the institution of failing to address antisemitism on campus and violating federal civil rights law. The government is seeking to freeze existing federal grants and recover previously disbursed funds, arguing that Harvard's actions warrant significant financial penalties. It also wants the court to require the university to comply with civil rights obligations and potentially repay billions in taxpayer funding.

The lawsuit asks the court to order Harvard to call police to remove protesters blocking campus spaces and to appoint an independent monitor to oversee compliance. The case centers on allegations that Jewish and Israeli students faced harassment during protests related to the Israel Hamas conflict, with some students reportedly avoiding classes due to safety concerns.

Harvard has rejected the allegations, stating it has taken proactive steps to combat antisemitism and enforce anti-discrimination policies. The university argues that the federal government is infringing on its constitutional rights and previously succeeded in overturning funding cuts in court. The latest legal action intensifies a year-long dispute between the administration of President Donald Trump and Harvard, which has already resulted in billions of dollars in research funding cuts and failed settlement negotiations.