The Trump administration has intensified its campaign against Harvard University, moving to potentially cut off the Ivy League institution from federal funding. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that its Office for Civil Rights referred Harvard to the department’s administrative office that oversees suspension and debarment proceedings. This step opens the possibility of Harvard being barred from federal contracts and research grants.
The escalation follows an earlier referral to the U.S. Department of Justice in July, which focused on allegations that Harvard failed to address discrimination and harassment targeting Jewish and Israeli students. Paula Stannard, director of the Office for Civil Rights, confirmed that Harvard has been notified of its right to an administrative hearing before a judge. The university has 20 days to request this hearing to contest alleged violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Harvard has repeatedly stated its commitment to combating discrimination, but the school declined to comment on this latest action. The administration has argued that universities like Harvard have fostered antisemitism by allowing pro-Palestinian protests on campus. Critics, including Jewish advocacy groups, counter that opposition to Israel’s actions in Gaza and the Palestinian territories is being wrongly equated with antisemitism.
Earlier this month, a federal judge ruled that the administration unlawfully revoked over $2 billion in research grants to Harvard, calling the move “an ideologically motivated assault.” Despite the legal setback, the administration continues to push for a financial settlement. President Trump has publicly demanded that Harvard pay “nothing less than $500 million,” accusing the university of harboring “radical left” ideologies.
This battle highlights the administration’s broader strategy of using federal funding as leverage to pressure U.S. universities, raising concerns about political interference in higher education.