Congress Investigates Antisemitism Rise on College Campuses

The Trump administration has increased pressure on Harvard University to release its long-delayed reports from task forces on antisemitism and anti-Muslim, anti-Arab, and anti-Palestinian bias, broadening a federal investigation into campus discrimination since October 2023. Federal agencies, including the Department of Health and Human Services, have demanded all draft and final reports, as well as the names of individuals involved, following criticism of Harvard’s response to rising antisemitism and campus tensions after the Hamas attack on Israel. Preliminary findings from Harvard’s antisemitism task force, launched in January 2024, reported widespread shunning, harassment, and intimidation directed at Jewish and Israeli students, while also noting discrimination against pro-Palestinian students. The investigations are part of a wider congressional scrutiny into the use of taxpayer funds by Harvard and its compliance with anti-discrimination laws. Prominent voices, such as former Harvard president Larry Summers and members of the task force, have acknowledged the seriousness of antisemitism at the university, although Summers attributes changes in the Jewish student population to broader diversity efforts. As both task forces have missed their deadlines for final reports, the federal government continues to threaten further action if Harvard does not comply.