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The Trump administration on Monday formally accused Harvard University of violating federal civil rights law, warning that the elite institution’s handling of antisemitism on campus could cost it billions in federal funding and severely damage its relationship with the U.S. government.
In a sharply worded letter, senior officials from the Departments of Justice, Education, Health and Human Services, and the General Services Administration concluded that Harvard has enabled a hostile environment for Jewish and Israeli students, and is in “violent violation” of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which bars discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in federally funded programs.
“Harvard’s commitment to racial hierarchies… has enabled antisemitism to fester,” the letter states, accusing the university of fostering a climate where Jewish students are physically unsafe, face harassment, and in some cases are forced to hide their identities.
The warning demands “adequate changes immediately” or risks cutting off access to federal contracts, grants, and other support. Among the changes sought: the elimination of DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) programs, a return to merit-based admissions and hiring, and greater transparency around foreign funding sources.
Federal Threats Escalate After Harvard Pushback
The dispute is the latest in a long and intensifying battle between Harvard and the Trump administration. Agencies under President Trump have already:
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Frozen billions in research grants and contracts,
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Revoked eligibility to enroll international students (blocked temporarily by a federal judge),
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And threatened to strip Harvard’s tax-exempt status.
Harvard President Alan Garber has forcefully pushed back against the administration’s directives, calling them “overreach” and warning that they undermine academic freedom.
In its response Monday, Harvard stated it has made “significant strides to combat bigotry, hate and bias”, releasing a comprehensive Antisemitism and Anti-Israeli Bias Report and outlining new policies, discipline measures, and community dialogue efforts.
“Antisemitism is a serious problem and, no matter the context, it is unacceptable,” the university said, adding it “strongly disagrees with the government’s findings.”
Trump Officials Cite Encampments, Assaults, and Campus Fear
The civil rights investigation, led by the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights, cited several incidents and data points:
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25% of Jewish students reportedly feel physically unsafe at Harvard,
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Jewish and Israeli students were allegedly assaulted and spit on,
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A pro-Palestinian encampment on Harvard Yard was said to “instill fear” and disrupt Jewish students’ education.
Federal officials accused the university of being both “deliberately indifferent” and at times a “willful participant” in the harassment.
“Harvard has become one of the most visible breeding grounds for race discrimination,” they wrote, referencing the Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling overturning race-based affirmative action programs — a case originally brought against Harvard.
The letter was signed by Harmeet Dhillon (DOJ), Sean Keveney (HHS), Josh Gruenbaum (GSA), and Thomas Wheeler (DOE), acting under the Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism, created by Trump in 2024.
Settlement Talks and Political Ramifications
President Donald Trump hinted earlier this month that the administration was engaged in talks with Harvard to resolve the conflict.
“It is very possible that a deal will be announced… If a settlement is made on the basis currently being discussed, it will be ‘mindbogglingly’ HISTORIC,” he wrote on Truth Social.
The exact nature of the proposed deal remains unclear.
Critics argue the Trump administration is using the civil rights finding to pursue broader ideological goals, including dismantling DEI initiatives and reshaping higher education policies along conservative lines.
Still, the stakes are high: Harvard receives hundreds of millions annually in federal research grants and aid programs. Losing access to these funds could dramatically impact faculty, students, and ongoing scientific projects.
What Comes Next
The university must now decide whether to comply with the Trump administration’s demands or risk litigation and federal defunding. Legal analysts expect the case could become a defining battle over the limits of federal authority, campus free speech, and institutional responses to antisemitism.
If no resolution is reached soon, the administration says enforcement actions will begin by the end of the summer.
