The Trump administration has warned Harvard University that it may lose all federal financial support unless it swiftly addresses allegations of antisemitism and civil rights violations against Jewish and Israeli students.

In a formal letter obtained, the administration accused Harvard of “deliberate indifference” toward widespread reports of harassment, intimidation, and physical threats targeting Jewish students. The notice of violation, typically a precursor to legal action or a mandated resolution, marks an escalation in an already high-stakes standoff between the Ivy League school and the White House.

“Failure to institute adequate changes immediately will result in the loss of all federal financial resources,” the letter stated. It was addressed to Harvard’s president, Alan Garber, and added, “Harvard may of course continue to operate free of federal privileges, and perhaps such an opportunity will spur a commitment to excellence that will help Harvard thrive once again.”

Federal investigators found that a majority of Jewish students surveyed experienced discrimination, with one in four reporting they had felt physically threatened. Documented incidents included spitting, assaults, and disturbing imagery such as antisemitic stickers and posters equating the Israeli flag with a swastika.

The letter criticised Harvard’s alleged “demographic hierarchy,” claiming that the university prioritises identity politics over individual merit, enabling antisemitism to “fester.”

The White House has intensified scrutiny of universities in recent months over their responses to pro-Palestinian campus protests and alleged antisemitic environments. In May, the administration directed a sweeping review of $100 million in federal contracts with Harvard and froze $2.65 billion in grants. It also attempted to revoke the school’s ability to host international students.

Last month, Columbia University received a similar notice over its handling of Jewish student safety.

In April, Harvard acknowledged its campus was deeply divided by the Gaza conflict. President Garber issued an apology for the institution’s shortcomings in ensuring student safety and promised reforms, though federal authorities now say those efforts fell short.

Harvard has not yet publicly responded to the latest federal warning.

Erizia Rubyjeana

Follow us on: