In its latest salvo against Harvard, the Trump administration’s State Department has initiated a sweeping investigation into the university’s J-1 visa program, citing national security concerns and demanding compliance amidst ongoing disputes over campus antisemitism and billions in frozen research funds.
The Trump administration has escalated its relentless pressure campaign against Harvard University, with the US State Department today launching a shockwave investigation into the university’s eligibility to sponsor the Exchange Visitor Program. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, announcing the probe, cited grave concerns over “national security and program compliance,” marking a new frontier in the bitter feud.
This intense scrutiny is specifically targeting individuals at Harvard who enter the US on J-1 visas – a program vital for international scholars, professors, researchers, and students. This initiative is distinct from the F-1 visa process, which falls under the Department of Homeland Security’s purview.
Secretary Rubio’s statement, quoted by CNN, laid down the gauntlet: “All sponsors participating in this program are required to fully comply with exchange visitor regulations, transparency in reporting, and a demonstrated commitment to fostering the principles of cultural exchange and mutual understanding.” He ominously added, “To maintain their privilege to sponsor exchange visitors, sponsors must comply with all regulations, including conducting their programs in a manner that does not undermine the foreign policy objectives or compromise the national security interests of the United States.”
Harvard spokesperson Jason Newton immediately hit back, slamming the investigation as “yet another retaliatory step taken by the Administration in violation of Harvard’s First Amendment rights.” While affirming the university’s commitment to compliance and its continued support for international scholars, Newton’s fiery response signals that Harvard views this as part of a broader, politically motivated assault.
This new probe follows a tumultuous period of legal and political disputes between the Trump administration and Harvard, largely triggered by the university’s controversial handling of increased antisemitism on campus in the wake of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel. The administration’s previous punitive actions have been severe, including a freeze of over $2 billion in federal research funding and President Trump’s advocacy for revoking the university’s tax-exempt status.
Earlier this month, the Trump administration intensified its offensive, announcing that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) intends to issue subpoenas for information concerning alleged misconduct by foreign students at Harvard. Furthermore, a presidential proclamation was issued to bar new foreign students from entering the United States to attend the university, though a federal judge has temporarily blocked its implementation.
Despite Harvard’s recent publication of two internal reviews detailing incidents of discrimination against Jewish, Muslim, and Arab students during last year’s protests – acknowledging that some students feared marginalization for expressing political views – the Trump administration’s pressure shows no signs of abatement. This latest investigation into the J-1 visa program escalates the confrontation, raising profound questions about academic freedom, national security, and the future of international exchange at one of America’s most prestigious institutions.
