Trump Administration Seeks Justice Action Over Harvard Civil Rights Noncompliance

Harvard University is facing intensified scrutiny from the Trump administration over its handling of antisemitism on campus, particularly following pro-Palestine protests after the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) found Harvard in violation of civil rights laws due to its insufficient response to antisemitic harassment, giving the university 10 days to comply or risk losing federal funding. After Harvard failed to meet these requirements, the investigation was transferred to the Department of Justice for potential legal action. This pressure comes amid ongoing negotiations between Harvard and the administration to restore billions in federal funding in exchange for campus reforms addressing hiring practices and viewpoint diversity. Separately, Harvard recently canceled a special issue of the Harvard Educational Review dedicated to Palestine after legal risk assessments, which authors viewed as censorship stemming from the politically charged climate surrounding Middle East research. Additionally, allegations surfaced that the Harvard Law Review considered race and gender in article selections, which Harvard disputed, emphasizing that protected characteristics are not factors in publication decisions.