Trump administration refers Harvard to Justice Department to address anti-Semitism allegations

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump’s administration has sent a letter to Harvard University saying it has referred the university to the US Justice Department to address allegations of “Harvard’s anti-Semitic discrimination”.

In late June, the Trump administration said an investigation had concluded Harvard violated federal civil rights law for failing to address harassment of Jewish and Israeli students.

Critics, rights experts and some faculty said such probes are a pretext to assert federal control over schools, and threaten academic freedom and free speech.

Harvard has been embroiled in talks and a legal fight with the Trump administration, seeking the restoration of billions of dollars of frozen federal funds for medical research and other programmes. It sued the Trump administration earlier in 2025.

“The parties’ several months’ engagement has been fruitless,” said the letter dated July 31 from the US Department of Health and Human Services to Harvard’s leadership.

“OCR (Office for Civil Rights) therefore has no choice but to refer the matter to DOJ to initiate appropriate proceedings to address Harvard’s anti-Semitic discrimination.”

Mr Trump has threatened to cut federal funds for universities over pro-Palestinian protests against US ally Israel’s war in Gaza. The government alleges universities allowed anti-Semitism during 2024’s pro-Palestinian protests.

Protesters, including some Jewish groups, say the Trump administration wrongly equates their criticism of Israel’s military assault in Gaza and its occupation of Palestinian territories with anti-Semitism, and advocacy for Palestinian rights with support for extremism.

Campus protesters demanded an end to US backing for Israel and a commitment that their universities will cease investing in weapons makers and companies that support Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories.

Harvard had no immediate comment on the July 31 letter. The university has said it aims to combat discrimination. Reports released in April by Harvard’s anti-Semitism and Islamophobia task forces found fear and bigotry faced by Jewish, Muslim and Arab students.

The Trump administration has not announced equivalent probes into Islamophobia.

Last week, Columbia University agreed to pay more than US$220 million (S$286 million) to resolve federal probes. The New York Times has reported Harvard was open to spending up to US$500 million to end its dispute with the US government. REUTERS