The Trump administration escalates its crackdown on Harvard University, referring it to the DOJ for alleged antisemitic discrimination, freezing $2B in funding, and weighing a $500M settlement offer.
Washington, D.C. — The Trump administration has taken the extraordinary step of referring Harvard University to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) over allegations of systemic antisemitic discrimination, Reuters revealed Wednesday.
The move follows months of stalled negotiations between the university and federal officials over claims that Harvard failed to protect Jewish and Israeli students from harassment and intimidation.
In a formal letter dated Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services informed Harvard leadership that the matter would now proceed to DOJ litigation.
“The parties’ several months’ engagement has been fruitless,” the letter stated. “OCR (Office for Civil Rights) therefore has no choice but to refer the matter to DOJ to initiate appropriate proceedings to address Harvard’s antisemitic discrimination.”
Funding Freeze and Sanctions
The referral comes after the Trump administration imposed a freeze on more than $2 billion in federal research funding to Harvard. The administration has also floated revoking Harvard’s tax-exempt status, intensifying the financial pressure on the Ivy League institution.
Last month, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced plans to issue subpoenas for records relating to alleged misconduct by foreign students at Harvard. The administration even issued a proclamation banning new foreign students from entering the U.S. to attend the university — a measure currently blocked by a federal judge.
Half-Billion Dollar Deal in Play
Earlier this week, The New York Times reported that Harvard has indicated willingness to pay up to $500 million to resolve the dispute. Speaking to reporters at the White House on Wednesday, President Donald Trump confirmed settlement talks:
“Well, it’s a lot of money,” Trump remarked when asked if half a billion dollars would be enough to end the matter. “We’re negotiating with Harvard now. They would like to settle, so we’ll see what happens.”
Part of a Wider Crackdown
The Harvard case comes just days after the Trump administration finalized a $50 million settlement with Brown University and a $221 million settlement with Columbia University, both involving commitments to combat campus antisemitism and uphold Title IX protections.
For Harvard, however, the stakes are far higher — with federal litigation, massive financial penalties, and the potential loss of tax-exempt status all hanging in the balance.
