Harvard University has recently been subjected to a thorough review as part of the Trump administration’s strategy to address campus antisemitism, potentially placing billions of dollars of its funding at risk. A federal task force dedicated to combating antisemitism is scrutinizing over $255 million in contracts between Harvard and the federal government to ensure compliance with civil rights laws. Additionally, $8.7 billion in grant commitments to Harvard and its affiliates will undergo examination.
This task force, which previously reduced $400 million in funding to Columbia University and threatened further cuts unless certain demands were met, now turns its focus to Harvard. Columbia’s eventual agreement to the changes drew mixed reactions, receiving approval from some Jewish organizations but criticism from free speech advocates for perceived governmental overreach.
The Trump administration has notified numerous other universities that they might encounter similar scrutiny regarding antisemitism allegations. The federal government serves as a significant funding source for U.S. universities through research grants. Education Secretary Linda McMahon stated that Harvard embodies the American Dream but has endangered its standing by endorsing divisive ideologies over free inquiry and failing to protect students from antisemitism. She expressed hope that Harvard can rectify these issues and recommit to being a campus devoted to academic excellence and student safety.
Harvard has yet to respond to requests for comment. It is one of over 100 educational institutions under investigation for either antisemitism or Islamophobia following Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. The Trump administration has pledged to adopt a more stringent stance than its predecessor, prioritizing antisemitism in civil rights investigations.
No specific demands of Harvard were disclosed in Monday’s announcement. The Education Department, Health and Human Services Department, and U.S. General Services Administration are overseeing the review of Harvard’s contracts and grants. These agencies will determine if particular contracts with Harvard should be halted and have requested a comprehensive list of all contracts between Harvard and the federal government.
Sean Keveney, acting general counsel for Health and Human Services, affirmed the task force’s commitment to eradicating antisemitism and refocusing institutions on the foundational values of liberal education, expressing satisfaction with Harvard’s willingness to engage in these efforts.
Prominent universities have faced intense scrutiny from Republicans in Congress following a series of pro-Palestinian protests, beginning at Columbia and spreading nationwide. The presidents of several Ivy League schools, including Harvard, Columbia, and Penn, were summoned before Congress due to accusations of allowing antisemitism to proliferate. These congressional hearings contributed to the resignations of the presidents of Harvard, Columbia, and Penn, with Columbia’s interim president, Katrina Armstrong, stepping down after the school complied with the government’s requirements.
President Trump and other officials have labeled the protesters as “pro-Hamas,” while student activists argue their opposition is directed at Israel’s military actions in Gaza. Instead of engaging in a prolonged procedure permitting the Education Department to withdraw funding from institutions violating civil rights laws, the Trump administration has employed a more immediate tactic by retracting contracts and grants. This approach is being contested in a federal lawsuit filed by the American Association of University Professors and the American Federation of Teachers.
This report was initially published on Fortune.com.
