Harvard Faces Congressional Heat Over Federal Funds, Civil Rights, and 'Woke' Accusations

Harvard University is under intense scrutiny as the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform launches a deep investigation into how the prestigious school spends taxpayer dollars and handles civil rights concerns, including antisemitism on campus.

Committee Chairman James Comer and House Republican Leadership Chairwoman Elise Stefanik sent a pointed letter to Harvard’s interim president, Dr. Alan M. Garber, demanding documents and communications related to compliance with federal civil rights laws. This comes right after the Trump administration froze $2.2 billion in federal funding to Harvard, with the Department of Homeland Security pulling another $2.7 million in grants. The IRS is also considering whether to revoke the university’s coveted tax-exempt status—talk about a triple whammy.

Lawmakers say their ultimate goal is to determine if new laws are needed to ensure that universities benefiting from federal funds can’t break the rules while raking in money from American taxpayers. The committee’s letter cited Harvard’s recent reluctance to work with the government on a proposed settlement to bring the university back in line with civil rights laws. Instead, Harvard argued that compliance would force it to give up its independence and constitutional rights.

Despite the threat to federal funding, Harvard has reportedly been pulling in significant sums from foreign sources, including some from authoritarian regimes, according to the letter. The university’s decision to potentially reject all federal financial assistance rather than comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is raising even more eyebrows in D.C. than usual.

Harvard responded by saying there’s "no legal basis" for the government to end its tax-exempt status. A spokesperson defended the exemption, arguing it helps fund scholarships, medical research, and economic development. "The government has long exempted universities from taxes in order to support their educational mission," the statement read.

President Donald Trump, never one to mince words, has slammed Harvard for being "almost all woke" and recently posted that the university "teaches Hate and Stupidity" and should lose all federal funds.

The uproar comes as antisemitism on college campuses has become a national flashpoint, especially after anti-Israel protests surged in the wake of the October 7 Hamas attacks. Congress is now laser-focused on whether elite universities are upholding civil rights standards or letting campus culture run wild.

Harvard acknowledged it is reviewing the committee’s inquiry. In a statement, the university said the government’s recent moves—including the freeze of $2.2 billion in grants, scrutiny of foreign student visas, and threats to its nonprofit status—are all responses to its efforts to protect its independence and constitutional rights. The university maintains it complies with the law and has taken steps to combat antisemitism, enforce policies, and foster respectful debates on campus.

However, Harvard says some of the federal demands—like changing its governance structure, reducing student and untenured faculty power, and allowing outside audits for viewpoint diversity—go far beyond the requirements of federal law and threaten academic freedom. "Complying with these demands would undermine our rights under the First Amendment and due process, and erode academic freedom," a spokesperson said. For a school that prides itself on breeding America’s next leaders, Harvard now finds itself facing some very tough lessons in government oversight.