The Trump administration has referred Harvard University to the U.S. Justice Department over allegations of antisemitic discrimination, escalating tensions between the White House and the Ivy League school.
In a letter dated Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) informed Harvard’s leadership that months of discussions had failed to resolve the issue. The letter stated that the Office for Civil Rights “has no choice but to refer the matter to DOJ to initiate appropriate proceedings to address Harvard’s antisemitic discrimination.”
The referral follows a June investigation in which the administration concluded Harvard violated federal civil rights laws by failing to adequately address harassment targeting Jewish and Israeli students. The findings come amid broader federal scrutiny of U.S. universities over their handling of campus protests related to Israel’s war in Gaza.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to cut federal funding to universities accused of allowing antisemitism, particularly during pro-Palestinian demonstrations. Harvard is currently suing the administration to restore billions of dollars in frozen federal research funds, arguing the freeze undermines academic freedom.
Critics and rights advocates argue the administration’s actions risk conflating criticism of Israel’s military operations with antisemitism, potentially silencing legitimate political speech. Some Jewish groups involved in the protests also reject the administration’s framing, saying advocacy for Palestinian rights should not be equated with support for extremism.
The Justice Department has not yet confirmed when it will act on the referral, but the case underscores growing federal involvement in campus disputes over Israel and Palestine, signaling potential precedent for future civil rights enforcement against universities.