The administration of United States President Donald Trump has filed a lawsuit against Harvard University, seeking billions of dollars in restitution for allegedly neglecting the civil rights of Jewish and Israeli students.The Department of Justice announced the lawsuit on Friday, stating that the university “allowed anti-semitism to flourish” amid uproar over Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of listThe university’s policies, according to the complaint, “sent the clear message to Harvard’s Jewish and Israeli community that the indifference was not an accident; they were being intentionally excluded and effectively denied equal access to educational opportunities.”Harvard quickly rejected the lawsuit’s allegations, saying it was “yet another pretextual and retaliatory action” from the Trump administration.Trump has been in a longstanding feud with Harvard since returning to office for a second term as president in 2025.In statement, Harvard pointed out that it has taken steps to address anti-Semitism on campus, including through new training and disciplinary processes.“Harvard cares deeply about members of our Jewish and Israeli community and remains committed to ensuring they are embraced, respected, and can thrive on our campus,” a spokesperson for the university said.“Harvard’s efforts demonstrate the very opposite of deliberate indifference.”It is unclear the exact amount in damages the Trump administration is seeking from Harvard, the oldest university still in operation in the US. Advertisement But Friday’s lawsuit points to nearly $2.6bn in federal grants awarded to the university from th …
