Trump Administration Targets Harvard in Crackdown on Campus Antisemitism 

Editor’s note: This piece has been updated at the end with Harvard’s response to the government’s review.

The federal government has initiated a grant review of Harvard University as part of its efforts to combat antisemitism, the Department of Health and Human Services announced Monday.  

A joint task force from the Department of Education, HHS, and the U.S. General Services Administration announced a comprehensive review of federal contracts and grants at Harvard University and its affiliates to ensure the university is following federal regulations, according to a press release from HHS. 

“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,” Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said 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. Harvard can right these wrongs and restore itself to a campus dedicated to academic excellence and truth-seeking, where all students feel safe on its campus.” 

President Donald Trump created the multiagency Task Force to Combat Antisemitism through an executive order in January.  

In a move that mirrors the ongoing review of Columbia University, the joint task force will review more than $255.6 million in contracts between Harvard University, its affiliates, and the federal government. It will also review more than $8.7 billion in multiyear grant commitments to Harvard University and its affiliates. 

This comes only days after Katrina Armstrong, Columbia University’s interim president, stepped down on Friday after the Ivy League school faced criticism for its handling of pro-Palestine campus protests. Armstrong announced nine concessions for changing its disciplinary policies before stepping down.  

“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,” HHS acting General Counsel Sean Keveney, a task force member, said. “We are pleased that Harvard is willing to engage with us on these goals.” 

Harvard initiated a hiring freeze earlier this month after the Trump administration paused $400 million in government grants to Columbia University for allegations of antisemitism. Outgoing Harvard College Dean Rakesh Khurana told The Harvard Crimson on Tuesday that the school may be next on the short list for federal funding cuts. 

“We are very cognizant of the fluid and changing environment that we are in,” Khurana told The Crimson. “As part of the institution, we are trying to support these efforts to make sure that we can adapt effectively to this environment and minimize any negative consequences to our core mission.” 

After suffering criticism for its handling of pro-Palestine riots on campus, the university settled two antisemitism lawsuits in January that accused the school of tolerating antisemitism on campus. In those settlements, The Harvard Crimson reported, Harvard agreed to clarify that its nondiscrimination policies protect Israeli and Jewish students and also agreed to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism, which classifies certain criticisms of Israel as antisemitic.  

“Hate in any form goes against the foundational principles of America. While Harvard’s recent actions to curb institutionalized antisemitism—though long overdue—are welcome, there is much more that the university must do to retain the privilege of receiving federal taxpayer’s hard-earned dollars,” Federal Acquisition Service Commissioner and task force member Josh Gruenbaum said. “This administration has proven that we will take swift action to hold institutions accountable if they allow antisemitism to fester. We will not hesitate to act if Harvard fails to do so.” 

Harvard University Media Relations did not immediately respond to The Daily Signal’s request for comment.  

Harvard University President Alan Garber issued an open letter to “members of the Harvard community” responding to the federal review. The letter says, in part:

We still have much work to do. We will engage with members of the federal government’s task force to combat antisemitism to ensure that they have a full account of the work we have done and the actions we will take going forward to combat antisemitism. We resolve to take the measures that will move Harvard and its vital mission forward while protecting our community and its academic freedom. By doing so, we combat bias and intolerance as we create the conditions that foster the excellence in teaching and research that is at the core of our mission.

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