“OCR’s referral of Harvard for formal administrative proceedings reflects OCR’s commitment to safeguard both taxpayer investments and the broader public interest,” said Paula M. Stannard, director of the OCR. “Congress has empowered gederal agencies to pursue Title VI compliance through formal enforcement mechanisms, including the termination of funding or denial of future Federal financial assistance, when voluntary compliance cannot be achieved.”
In June, more than two months after the Trump administration canceled nearly $3 billion of Harvard’s federal funding after the university rejected a series of demands, the government released a notice of violation that alleged Harvard “has been in some cases deliberately indifferent, and in others has been a willful participant in anti-Semitic harassment of Jewish students, faculty, and staff.”
The 57-page notice relied heavily upon Harvard’s own report on antisemitism and anti-Israeli bias that it released earlier this year, which followed high-profile protests at Harvard and other campuses against the war in Gaza in 2023 and 2024.
Harvard spokesperson Jason Newton said at the time that antisemitism is a “serious problem” and is unacceptable “no matter the context.” He added that the university “has made significant strides to combat bigotry, hate and bias.”
“Harvard is far from indifferent on this issue and strongly disagrees with the government’s findings,” Newton said in a statement in June. “We remain committed to ensuring members of our Jewish and Israeli community are embraced, respected, and can thrive at Harvard.”
Spokespeople for Harvard did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday.
A month after the notice of violation, HHS also referred its civil rights investigation to the Department of Justice. The department has not filed any additional charges against Harvard.
Monday’s recommendation also comes less than a month after a federal judge in Boston ruled that the $3 billion in funding cuts were illegal.
The Trump administration argued it had a right to cancel the funds because Harvard failed to combat antisemitism, but Judge Allison D. Burroughs said those concerns were used as a “smokescreen” for its attacks on Harvard and other elite universities.
At least some of Harvard’s research funding has flowed back to campus, though the Trump administration has vowed to appeal the case and has stated that Harvard is ineligible for any future funds.
In addition to its attempts to cut Harvard’s funding, the Trump administration has tried to ban the school from hosting international students, threatened its accreditation, and opened reviews into employment records and university patents.
Aidan Ryan can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @aidanfitzryan.
