Trump Administration Accuses Harvard of Civil Rights Violations, Threatens Federal Funding Loss

The Trump administration has formally accused Harvard University of violating federal civil rights laws, specifically Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, by tolerating and at times participating in antisemitic harassment on campus. Following an investigation by the Department of Health and Human Services, Harvard was found to have allowed anti-Israel and antisemitic actions, including assaults and discriminatory bias against Jewish students, to persist without adequate intervention, leading to a formal Notice of Violation and threats to withdraw nearly $800 million in federal funding. Sixteen state attorneys general have supported President Trump's efforts to hold Harvard accountable, emphasizing the need for equal protection of Jewish students and rejecting Harvard's claims of First Amendment protection against federal disciplinary actions. Harvard’s refusal to comply with certain executive orders and its ongoing legal challenge against the funding restrictions have drawn both criticism and support, highlighting a growing national debate over institutional responses to antisemitism and federal oversight. This confrontation reflects broader tensions between the Trump administration and elite universities over ideological and policy differences, with Harvard standing as a focal point of resistance amid increasing pressure to address campus discrimination more rigorously.