Trump Administration to Review Federal Contracts with Harvard Amid Anti-Semitism Concerns
The Trump administration has announced a “comprehensive review” of federal contracts with Harvard University as part of its efforts to combat anti-Semitism in the United States, Al Jazeera reports.
On Monday, the Department of Education, the General Services Administration, and the Health and Human Services Department issued a joint press release stating that $255.6 million in Harvard contracts and $8.7 billion in multi-year grants are set to be examined.
“Harvard has served as a symbol of the American Dream for generations,” said Secretary of Education Linda McMahon in a statement. “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.”
The announcement follows similar actions taken against Columbia University in New York, which had millions in contracts revoked.
Both Harvard and Columbia have been focal points for pro-Palestinian demonstrations following the start of the conflict in Gaza in October 2023. Student encampments and protests on these campuses have denounced school ties to Israel and called for an end to human rights abuses in Gaza.
Organizers of the campus protests have refuted accusations of anti-Semitism, arguing that criticizing the Israeli government is distinct from spreading anti-Jewish hatred. They have characterized attempts to label their protests as anti-Semitic as a form of censorship aimed at suppressing free speech.
Conversely, critics have argued that the protests have created an unsafe learning environment for Jewish students.
On March 7, the Trump administration revoked $400 million in grants and contracts from Columbia University, accusing the school of allowing “relentless violence, intimidation, and anti-Semitic harassment” on its campus.
