By Kanishka Singh
In a significant move, President Donald Trump’s administration sent a letter to Harvard University, indicating that they have referred the university to the U.S. Justice Department. This referral is tied to serious allegations that suggest Harvard has been engaging in “antisemitic discrimination.”
Back in late June, the administration wrapped up an investigation which concluded that Harvard breached federal civil rights laws by not adequately addressing harassment incidents involving Jewish and Israeli students.
Many critics, including rights experts and faculty members, argue that such investigations are merely a means for the federal government to exert control over educational institutions. They believe it poses dangers to both academic freedom and the principles of free speech.
Harvard currently finds itself negotiating and embroiled in legal proceedings with the Trump administration, largely to retrieve billions of dollars in federal funding that had been frozen—funds essential for medical research and various programs. Earlier this year, the university took legal action against the administration.
According to correspondence from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to Harvard, as stated in a letter dated Wednesday, efforts to resolve the issues peacefully have not resulted in any constructive outcomes.
The letter explained, “Since OCR (Office for Civil Rights) has faced obstacles, we need to refer this situation to the DOJ to initiate necessary actions regarding Harvard’s antisemitic discrimination.”
Adding to the tension, Trump has warned universities about the potential loss of federal funding if they do not address allegations relating to antisemitism, particularly surrounding the pro-Palestinian protests advocating for rights against the backdrop of Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
Protesters, including some Jewish organizations, contend that the Trump administration mistakenly conflates their criticism of Israel’s aggressive tactics and occupation policies with more harmful antisemitic attitudes. They argue that calls for Palestinian rights are mischaracterized as support for extreme positions.
On campuses, advocates are urging for cessation of U.S. support for Israel, pushing universities to remove investments in companies involved in the arms trade and those enabling occupation activities.
At the moment, there has been no immediate response from Harvard to the recent letter, but the university has expressed its commitment to tackling discrimination issues. Previous reports from committees addressing antisemitism and Islamophobia revealed troubling trends of prejudice affecting Jewish, Muslim, and Arab students.
Interestingly, the Trump administration has not made announcements regarding investigations into claims related to Islamophobia.
In another prominent case, just last week Columbia University agreed to pay over $220 million to resolve federal inquiries. The New York Times reported that Harvard may be considering an expenditure of up to $500 million to resolve its ongoing disputes with the federal government.
(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by David Gregorio)
