The Department of Education has launched a sweeping federal review of Harvard University’s contracts and grant funding in a bold move to crack down on anti-Semitic harassment on college campuses.
The Departments of Education (ED), Health and Human Services (HHS), and the General Services Administration (GSA) jointly announced Monday that they are examining more than $255.6 million in federal contracts and $8.7 billion in multi-year federal grants awarded to Harvard University and its affiliates.
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The investigation is part of the Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism, created under President Donald Trump’s executive order “Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism.” The Task Force is tasked with ensuring federally funded institutions uphold civil rights protections and are free from anti-Semitic discrimination.
“Harvard’s failure to protect students on campus from anti-Semitic discrimination — all while promoting divisive ideologies over free inquiry — has put its reputation in serious jeopardy,” said Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. “Harvard can right these wrongs and restore itself to a campus dedicated to academic excellence and truth-seeking, where all students feel safe.”
In addition to direct funding, Harvard has been instructed to provide a full accounting of all federal contracts and grants, including those awarded through affiliated institutions that may have been omitted from initial disclosures.
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Officials say the review could result in Stop Work Orders, grant freezes, or even contract terminations for any activities found to be out of compliance with federal regulations, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.
“Hate in any form goes against the foundational principles of America,” said Josh Gruenbaum, Commissioner of the Federal Acquisition Service and a Task Force member. “While Harvard’s recent actions to curb institutionalized anti-Semitism — though long overdue — are welcome, there is much more that the university must do to retain the privilege of receiving federal taxpayer dollars.”
The Harvard review mirrors a recent federal investigation into Columbia University, which resulted in a freeze on some federal funds and forced Columbia to agree to nine compliance preconditions before negotiations for fund reinstatement could proceed.
“We are pleased that Harvard is willing to engage with us on these goals,” said Sean Keveney, Acting General Counsel at HHS and Task Force member. “The Task Force will continue its efforts to root out anti-Semitism and to refocus our institutions of higher learning on the core values that undergird a liberal education.”
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The federal action comes amid growing concern from both Jewish advocacy groups and elected officials about rising anti-Semitic incidents and rhetoric on elite college campuses.
The review reflects a shift in federal education oversight toward enforcing compliance through funding mechanisms.
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