The U.S. government has launched a review of Harvard University’s $9 billion in federal funding due to allegations of anti-Semitism on campus, officials announced Monday. This follows a similar move against Columbia University, where funding was cut after intense pro-Palestinian student protests.
President Donald Trump has taken a hard stance against universities that have experienced protests over Israel’s war against Hamas. His administration has stripped federal funds from institutions and directed immigration authorities to deport foreign student demonstrators, including those with green cards.
The General Services Administration stated that the review will examine $255.6 million in government contracts with Harvard and $8.7 billion in multi-year grant commitments. Critics argue that the administration’s actions threaten free speech, while supporters claim they are necessary to maintain order and protect Jewish students.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon criticized Harvard’s handling of campus tensions, stating that the university’s failure to prevent anti-Semitic discrimination has damaged its reputation. She urged Harvard to take corrective action to ensure academic excellence and student safety.
Columbia University has also faced scrutiny, with an initial review putting $400 million in funding at risk. A graduate student linked to the protests was detained for deportation, and the administration has sought further arrests. In response, Columbia agreed to several government-imposed conditions, including stricter policies on defining anti-Semitism, regulating protests, and increasing oversight of certain academic departments.
Monday’s statement confirmed that the review of Harvard follows the ongoing Columbia investigation, which led to Columbia accepting nine preconditions for negotiations over reinstating its federal funding.
Harvard has not yet responded to the government’s actions.