The Trump administration has escalated its ongoing campaign against Harvard University, threatening to cut off all federal funding after a Department of Health and Human Services investigation found the institution in “violent violation” of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.
In a letter sent Monday to interim President Alan Garber, federal officials accused Harvard of failing to adequately respond to antisemitic incidents on campus, citing evidence that Jewish and Israeli students had been assaulted, felt compelled to hide their identities, and were subjected to hostile campus demonstrations. The investigation concluded that the university was at times “deliberately indifferent” and, in some cases, “a willful participant” in the harassment of Jewish students.
“Failure to institute adequate changes immediately will result in the loss of all federal financial resources,” the letter stated. “Harvard may of course continue to operate free of federal privileges, and perhaps such an opportunity will spur a commitment to excellence that will help Harvard thrive once again.”
Harvard strongly rejected the administration’s findings and defended its record on addressing hate and discrimination. “Harvard is far from indifferent on this issue and strongly disagrees with the government’s findings,” a university spokesperson said in a statement to ABC News. “We remain committed to ensuring members of our Jewish and Israeli community are embraced, respected, and can thrive at Harvard.”
This latest salvo marks a significant escalation in the Trump administration’s pressure campaign against elite institutions, especially Harvard, which has already seen more than $2 billion in federal grants frozen and threats to its tax-exempt status and international student enrollment capabilities.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon has defended the administration’s actions as necessary to ensure civil rights protections for Jewish students. “The Trump administration’s work to restore equal enforcement of civil rights on American campuses continues,” she posted Monday on X, formerly Twitter.
McMahon also hinted at potential negotiations, suggesting during a Bloomberg fireside chat that funding could be reinstated if institutions meet the administration’s expectations. “It would be my goal that if universities… are abiding by the laws of the United States and doing what we are expecting of them that they can expect to have taxpayer-funded programs,” she said.
Critics see the administration’s moves as a politically motivated intervention in higher education, raising alarm over threats to academic independence and civil liberties. With negotiations ongoing, the future of Harvard’s federal funding—and broader implications for American universities—remains uncertain.
