US District Judge Richard Stearns ruled on Thursday that the government's March lawsuit failed to plausibly demonstrate an ongoing violation of federal civil rights law, noting that most allegations centered on protests during the 2023–2024 academic year, while later incidents in March 2025 were deemed too "isolated and episodic" to sustain a claim.

Broader conflict between Trump administration and Harvard

The legal battle forms part of a broader conflict between the administration and Harvard, which the White House targeted as part of a campaign to reform major US universities and recover billions in federal funding. While Harvard has consistently denied the allegations—calling the lawsuit retaliatory and maintaining its commitment to a harassment-free campus—the administration has faced setbacks in separate legal disputes, including a blocked attempt to revoke Harvard's international student enrollment and a pending appeal over terminated research grants.