Trump Administration Pressures Harvard to Address Antisemitism or Risk Losing Billions in Federal Funding

The Trump administration has officially drawn a line in the sand: Harvard University needs to tackle antisemitism head-on or potentially kiss billions of taxpayer dollars goodbye. In a letter to Harvard President Alan Garber, senior officials accused the university of failing to protect students and faculty from antisemitic violence and harassment, citing violations of the Civil Rights Act. Now, that’s a serious allegation, but when billions of dollars are on the line, it’s not surprising the government is demanding action.

The letter, signed by three top officials from federal agencies—including Josh Gruenbaum of the General Services Administration, Sean Keveney from the Department of Health and Human Services, and Thomas Wheeler from the Department of Education—did not mince words. "U.S. taxpayers invest enormously in U.S. colleges and universities, including Harvard," it stated, emphasizing the government’s responsibility to ensure these institutions are sound stewards of public funds.

Among the conditions listed, Harvard must implement policies banning masks that could conceal identities during protests, adopt merit-based admissions, and eliminate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs. Talk about flipping the script—these demands could fundamentally reshape the university’s operations. The letter also stressed cooperating fully with federal agencies and law enforcement, holding students accountable for violations, and reviewing programs that allegedly fuel antisemitic harassment.

The stakes couldn’t be higher. The Federal Task Force to Combat Antisemitism announced a review of $8 billion in multi-year grants and $255 million in contracts tied to Harvard and other institutions. Their message? Reform isn't optional. Harvard must act or risk losing access to critical funding.

President Garber, in response, acknowledged the severity of the issue. "We are not perfect. Antisemitism is a critical problem that we must and will continue to address," he said. While promising to engage with the task force, Garber also highlighted Harvard’s longstanding partnership with the federal government, which has fueled groundbreaking research and innovation.

Harvard isn’t the only school under scrutiny. Weeks earlier, the Trump administration revoked $400 million in funding from Columbia University, demanding similar reforms. Columbia eventually complied with many of the government’s requests, though it denied “caving” and framed its actions as aligned with institutional values. The administration has also revoked visas for hundreds of international students, particularly those involved in Gaza protests deemed pro-Hamas.

Meanwhile, Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences Dean Hopi E. Hoekstra revealed the university has begun contingency planning to brace for potential federal funding cuts. "This news is extraordinarily disconcerting," Hoekstra admitted, urging the faculty to focus on maintaining their teaching and research mission during uncertain times.

The Trump administration’s tough stance marks a significant shift in how elite universities are held accountable for their policies and actions. Whether Harvard meets the administration’s demands or risks losing billions remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the era of "elite impunity," as the task force called it, may be coming to an end.