Federal authorities were directed by the Trump administration to investigate Harvard University over allegations of anti-Semitic discrimination.
In a significant move, the Trump administration has referred Harvard University to the US Department of Justice (DOJ) over allegations of antisemitic discrimination. This escalation follows months of stalled efforts to resolve claims that Harvard failed to protect Jewish and Israeli students from harassment.
The investigation, initially conducted by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), concluded in July 2025 that Harvard demonstrated "deliberate indifference" to antisemitic incidents on campus, violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. However, communications between HHS and Harvard failed to resolve the issues, leading to the official referral to the DOJ on August 1, 2025.
The surge in antisemitism complaints at Harvard came after the October 7, 2024 Hamas attack on Israel. The HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) Director, Paula M. Stannard, sent a two-page letter to Harvard President Alan M. Garber, declaring the failure to resolve the matter voluntarily and stating that the DOJ referral was necessary to initiate appropriate proceedings against Harvard for antisemitic discrimination.
The federal probe into Harvard escalated under the Trump administration's renewed scrutiny, which included efforts to freeze billions in federal research funding for the university and attempts to limit its participation in federal exchange visitor programmes. The investigation intensified following reports of rampant antisemitism on campus after the October 2024 Hamas-Israel conflict.
This case represents a significant escalation of federal government involvement in addressing antisemitism on college campuses and could set precedents for campus policy enforcement at federally funded institutions.
Last month, the Trump administration announced that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) intends to issue subpoenas for information concerning alleged misconduct by foreign students at Harvard. However, no decision has been made regarding the loss of accreditation for Harvard University.
In a potential resolution, Trump has indicated that his administration may accept a $500 million settlement from Harvard University. Harvard University has expressed readiness to pay up to $500 million as part of a settlement. However, no definitive decision has been made by Trump on accepting the settlement.
A federal judge has temporarily blocked the administration from implementing a proclamation that bars new foreign students from entering the United States to attend Harvard University. Trump has also advocated for revoking Harvard's tax-exempt status.
This development marks a significant turning point in the relationship between the Trump administration and Harvard University, with potential implications for antisemitism policies at federally funded institutions and the rights of foreign students in the United States.
- The escalating investigation into antisemitic incidents at Harvard University, initiated by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has now been referred to the Department of Justice (DOJ) under the Trump administration's policy-and-legislation of renewed scrutiny, which could set precedents for campus policy enforcement at federally funded institutions in war-and-conflicts, crime-and-justice, and general-news contexts.
- Amidst the ongoing federal probe into antisemitism allegations at Harvard, the Trump administration has proposed to accept a $500 million settlement from the university, a potential resolution that could impact not only the politics between the administration and the institution, but also the rights of foreign students in the United States, as well as their future participation in federal exchange visitor programs.
