...
By Jesus Mesa and Gabe Whisnant
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
The Trump administration announced Monday that it is reviewing approximately $9 billion in federal funding allocated to Harvard University, accusing the institution of failing to address antisemitism on its campus.
The review, announced Monday, involves $255.6 million in contracts and $8.7 billion in multiyear grant commitments with Harvard and its affiliates, and will be led by a federal antisemitism task force operating under the Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, and General Services Administration.
The Context
The move follows similar action against Columbia University, where the administration initially froze $400 million in federal funds before reaching a conditional settlement. Harvard, a symbolic cornerstone of U.S. higher education, is now under federal scrutiny for allegedly failing to meet civil rights obligations to protect Jewish students from harassment and discrimination.
Read More on U.S.
What to Know
The Trump administration has made campus antisemitism a central plank of its education policy, particularly in response to last year's wave of pro-Palestinian demonstrations on college campuses, including Harvard. In January, Harvard settled a lawsuit brought by students who accused the school of permitting antisemitic harassment.
"Harvard has served as a symbol of the American dream for generations—the pinnacle aspiration for students all over the world to work hard and earn admission to the storied institution," said Secretary of Education Linda McMahon in a press release.
"Harvard's failure to protect students on campus from antisemitic discrimination—all while promoting divisive ideologies over free inquiry—has put its reputation in serious jeopardy," she added.
...
The federal review could result in "stop work" orders on specific contracts or outright termination if Harvard is found to be in violation of compliance standards, according to a joint statement from the agencies involved.
"Any institution found to be in violation of federal compliance standards may face administrative actions, including contract termination," the statement said.
The university will also be expected to provide the White House with a list of federal contracts not included in the initial review.
Sean Keveney, acting general counsel for the Department of Health and Human Services, emphasized that the task force's goal is not solely punitive.
"The Task Force will continue its efforts to root out antisemitism and to refocus our institutions of higher learning on the core values that undergird a liberal education," Keveney said in a statement. "We are pleased that Harvard is willing to engage with us on these goals."
Trump Tightens Grip on the Ivy League
The review comes just weeks after the Trump administration withdrew over $400 million in federal funding from Columbia University, demanding changes to the school's disciplinary policies and placing its Middle Eastern, African, and South Asian studies programs under tighter administrative oversight.
Columbia ultimately conceded to many of the administration's demands—a decision that sparked widespread national backlash and led to the sudden removal of interim President Katrina Armstrong.
...
Now, similar pressure on Harvard is expected to prompt pushback from faculty who see it as a threat to academic independence. In what The Harvard Crimson described as a "rare display of unity," more than 600 faculty members signed a letter urging the university's governing boards to "refuse to comply with unlawful demands that threaten academic freedom and university self-governance."
Harvard has not yet issued a public response to the funding review.
Earlier in March, the administration's task force sent letters to 60 colleges and universities, including Harvard, warning of possible enforcement actions if schools failed to adequately address antisemitism. At Columbia, the government's conditions reportedly included banning face coverings at protests, disciplining students who promote antisemitic content, and placing at least one department under "academic receivership" for five years.
What People Are Saying
Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, in a statement Monday: "Harvard can right these wrongs and restore itself to a campus dedicated to academic excellence and truth-seeking, where all students feel safe."
Harvard President Alan M. Garber, in a December interview with The Harvard Crimson: "We could not carry out our mission the way we do now without substantial federal research support, nor could we provide the benefits to the nation that we do now without that support."
Former Secretary of the Treasury Lawrence H. Summers, President Emeritus at Harvard, on X (formerly Twitter): "I am profoundly saddened and alarmed by @ColumbiaUniversity and @PaulWeissLLP law firm's capitulation to the increasingly dictatorial Trump administration."
What Happens Next
The federal antisemitism task force—which is also investigating nine other universities, including Columbia—intends to visit Harvard's campus, though a date has not yet been announced.
Update 3/31/25, 5:59 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines