The Trump administration announced that it will review billions of dollars in federal funding to Harvard University over concerns about antisemitism on campus. This move follows dramatic cuts at Columbia University, where the administration said the school was not doing enough to protect Jewish students.
Harvard officials have taken steps to address complaints of antisemitism and Islamophobia since last year’s protests over the Israel-Gaza war. The university has implemented changes, including standardizing procedures for disciplinary cases and updating campus use policies.
However, some critics argue that the administration’s efforts are politically motivated and aim to curb free speech rights. Higher education experts say the Trump administration is making accusations without evidence and threatening institutions without following procedures.
The Education Secretary stated that Harvard’s failure to protect students from anti-Semitic discrimination has put its reputation in jeopardy. The university president said that halting funding would halt life-saving research and imperil important scientific research and innovation.
The review process will work with contracting agencies to assess whether stop-work orders should be issued for any identified contracts, according to the announcement. Harvard has been ordered to provide a comprehensive list of all contracts with the federal government not included in the initial review.
As the administration continues to scrutinize universities over antisemitism concerns, experts say that higher education leaders must balance student safety and free speech rights. The review is seen as part of the Trump administration’s broader efforts to combat what they perceive as a failure on the part of elite universities to stop disruptive protests and give voice to conservative views.
Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2025/03/31/harvard-federal-funding-trump-administration