Harvard in Violation of Civil Rights Laws, Trump Administration Alleges

The Trump administration has formally alleged that Harvard University is in violation of civil rights laws, threatening to cut all federal funding after an investigation concluded that the civil rights of Jewish students had been violated. A letter sent to the Ivy League school stated that Harvard failed to protect students from discrimination based on race or nationality, and was a “willful participant in anti-Semitic harassment.”
This serious accusation follows a period of significant financial strain for Harvard, which had already lost over $2.6 billion in federal funding. This previous loss was a direct result of the university’s rejection of President Trump’s demands for a substantial overhaul of its campus operations, including admissions and hiring policies. The current threat underscores the administration’s resolve.
Beyond the civil rights probe, President Trump had previously expressed strong views on Harvard’s international student enrollment. He advocated for a cap of approximately 15% on foreign students, asserting that Harvard’s current 31% enrollment disproportionately affected American students seeking admission to elite universities. This was another point of friction between the administration and the university.
The conflict escalated dramatically when the administration revoked Harvard’s certification to enroll international students, prompting the university to file a lawsuit challenging the ban as unconstitutional retaliation. Despite these contentious moments, President Trump recently indicated a potential resolution, announcing ongoing talks with Harvard officials and hinting at a “mindbogglingly’ HISTORIC” settlement.