CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — As part of the Trump Administration’s investigation into antisemitic discrimination and harassment on college campuses, three separate government entities announced a review of federal contracts granted to Harvard University, totaling billions of dollars.
The review was initiated by the Department of Education, Health and Human Services, and the U.S. General Services Administration.
More than $255.6 million in contracts between Harvard and its affiliates will be under the microscope, along with more than $8.7 billion in multi-year grant commitments to Harvard University and its affiliates “to ensure the university is in compliance with federal regulations, including its civil rights responsibilities,” according to a joint release.
Harvard was asked to submit a list of all contracts between their institution and the federal government that were not included in their initial review earlier this month, during which the university and 5 other Massachusetts colleges received letters from the Department of Education.
If the university is found to be in violation of federal compliance standards, administrative action, including contract terminations, may be taken, according to federal officials.
Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said Harvard was once “a symbol of the American Dream,” but has since lost its way.
“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,” said McMahon. “Harvard can right these wrongs and restore itself to a campus dedicated to academic excellence and truth-seeking, where all students feel safe on its campus.”
In response, Harvard University’s President Alan M. Gaber released a statement:
“Earlier today, the federal government’s task force to combat antisemitism issued a letter putting at risk almost $9 billion in support of research at Harvard and other institutions, including hospitals in our community. If this funding is stopped, it will halt life-saving research and imperil important scientific research and innovation.
The government has informed us that they are considering this action because they are concerned that the University has not fulfilled its obligations to curb and combat antisemitic harassment. We fully embrace the important goal of combatting antisemitism, one of the most insidious forms of bigotry. Urgent action and deep resolve are needed to address this serious problem that is growing across America and around the world. It is present on our campus. I have experienced antisemitism directly, even while serving as president, and I know how damaging it can be to a student who has come to learn and make friends at a college or university.
For the past fifteen months, we have devoted considerable effort to addressing antisemitism. We have strengthened our rules and our approach to disciplining those who violate them. We have enhanced training and education on antisemitism across our campus and introduced measures to support our Jewish community and ensure student safety and security. We have launched programs to promote civil dialogue and respectful disagreement inside and outside the classroom. We have adopted many other reforms, and we will continue to combat antisemitism and to foster a campus culture that includes and supports every member of our community.
We still have much work to do. We will engage with members of the federal government’s task force to combat antisemitism to ensure that they have a full account of the work we have done and the actions we will take going forward to combat antisemitism. We resolve to take the measures that will move Harvard and its vital mission forward while protecting our community and its academic freedom. By doing so, we combat bias and intolerance as we create the conditions that foster the excellence in teaching and research that is at the core of our mission.
Much is at stake here. In longstanding partnership with the federal government, we have launched and nurtured pathbreaking research that has made countless people healthier and safer, more curious and more knowledgeable, improving their lives, their communities, and our world. But we are not perfect. Antisemitism is a critical problem that we must and will continue to address. As an institution and as a community, we acknowledge our shortcomings, pursue needed change, and build stronger bonds that enable all to thrive. Our commitment to these ends—and to the teaching and research at the heart of our University—will not waver.
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