The Trump administration on Monday issued a scathing rebuke of Harvard University, concluding that the Ivy League school violated federal civil rights law by fostering an environment hostile to Jewish and Israeli students. The administration has warned that unless immediate reforms are made, Harvard will lose all federal funding.
In a letter to Harvard President Alan Garber, the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights stated that its investigation found Harvard “in violent violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act,” which bars discrimination based on race, color, or national origin.
Key findings included:
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Widespread reports of discrimination, physical threats, and harassment targeting Jewish and Israeli students.
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Campus vandalism involving anti-Semitic imagery, including swastikas replacing Stars of David and stickers equating Israel to Nazism.
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Demonstrations that included calls for genocide and that blocked Jewish students from access to campus areas.
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Disciplinary processes that were, according to one Harvard leader, “not fair” and “not right,” with no suspensions handed down to students who participated in threatening encampments.
The administration’s letter made clear that if Harvard fails to immediately enact reforms, it will lose access to federal funding. “Harvard may of course continue to operate free of federal privileges,” the letter read, adding that the move could “spur a commitment to excellence that will help Harvard thrive once again.”
The administration also blasted Harvard for fostering a “demographic hierarchy” that prioritizes certain identities while allowing open hostility toward Jews. “The failure to face the reality of anti-Semitism,” the letter stated, “can have catastrophic effects.”
Harvard responded by denying the administration’s conclusions but admitted that antisemitism remains a “serious problem.” A spokesperson said the university “strongly disagrees with the government’s findings” and insisted that efforts are underway to combat hate and bias on campus.
Still, the Trump administration made clear that words are not enough. Without concrete action, America’s oldest university may soon be operating without federal financial support.