Harvard University is now in the crosshairs of the Trump administration's efforts to tackle campus antisemitism, with a new "comprehensive review" that could put billions of dollars at risk for the Ivy League school.
The government’s antisemitism task force is currently reviewing more than $255 million in contracts between Harvard and federal agencies to ensure the university is in line with civil rights laws. They're also looking into $8.7 billion in grants to Harvard and its affiliates.
This follows a similar move against Columbia University, where the task force cut $400 million and threatened even bigger cuts unless the school agreed to a series of demands from President Trump's administration. Columbia has since agreed to many of those demands, which earned praise from some Jewish groups but sparked backlash from free speech advocates, who see it as an overreach by the federal government.
Other universities have been warned that they might face similar scrutiny over allegations of antisemitism, with the federal government being a major source of funding for academic research.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon said Harvard, which she described as a symbol of the American Dream, is damaging its reputation by "promoting divisive ideologies over free inquiry." She added, "Harvard can fix this and restore itself to a place where academic excellence and truth-seeking are prioritized, and all students feel safe."
The announcement didn’t mention any specific demands made of Harvard yet. The review is being led by the Education Department, the Health and Human Services Department, and the U.S. General Services Administration.
As part of the review, Harvard will have to submit a list of all its contracts with the federal government, whether directly or through its affiliates. The task force is also considering whether to issue orders to halt work on certain contracts.
"The Task Force will continue its efforts to eliminate antisemitism and refocus our institutions of higher learning on the core values of a liberal education," said Sean Keveney, acting general counsel for Health and Human Services. "We're pleased that Harvard is willing to engage with us on these goals."
