Filed Date: March 20, 2026
Case Ongoing
Clearinghouse coding complete
[On March 20, 2026, the U.S. government filed suit against Harvard University Fellows and President ("Harvard") in U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. In their complaint, the U.S. alleges that Harvard failed to protect their Jewish and Israeli students by (1) remaining deliberately indifferent to hostility against these groups and (2) intentionally refusing to enforce their campus rules when victims were Jews or Israelis. Because Harvard accepts grants from the U.S., it is required to comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The U.S. alleges that Harvard is in violation of Title VI by its repeated discrimination against Jewish and Israeli students. This action seeks to compel Harvard to comply with Title VI and to recover billions of dollars of taxpayer subsidies awarded to the university while it engages in this discriminatory conduct. Plaintiff seeks a declaration that Harvard has violated Title VI, an injunction against the alleged discrimination, to permit the recission of grants previously given to Harvard, to discontinue giving grants to Harvard, and to appoint an independent outside monitor.
This case is ongoing.
Summary Authors
Claire Pollard (3/22/2026)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72520538/parties/united-states-v-president-and-fellows-of-harvard-college/
Stearns, Richard Gaylore (Massachusetts)
Flickinger, Daniel (Massachusetts)
Morrison, Jeffrey (Massachusetts)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72520538/united-states-v-president-and-fellows-of-harvard-college/
Last updated April 5, 2026, 3:08 a.m.
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
Trump Administration 2.0: Litigation and Investigations By the Government
Key Dates
Filing Date: March 20, 2026
Case Ongoing: Yes
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
The United States of America.
Plaintiff Type(s):
U.S. Dept of Justice plaintiff
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Non-profit or advocacy
Harvard University
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Title IV, Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000c et seq.
Other Dockets:
District of Massachusetts 1:26-cv-11352
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: None Yet / None
Relief Sought:
Relief Granted:
Source of Relief:
Issues
Discrimination Basis:
National origin discrimination
Affected National Origin/Ethnicity(s):
Affected Religion(s):
Case Summary of Unites States of America v. Harvard University Fellows and President, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/47948/ (last updated 3/22/2026).