HHS Refers Harvard University to DOJ Over Anti-Semitism Concerns

On Wednesday, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) connected Harvard University with the Department of Justice (DOJ), suggesting that the institution may not be willing to address anti-Semitism on its own.

According to a memo obtained by the Daily Caller News Foundation, HHS’s Civil Rights Bureau indicated that Harvard was informed back in June about its potential violation of civil rights law due to “intentional indifference to the harassment of anti-Semitic students.” The memo states that HHS believes compliance from Harvard can’t be achieved “voluntarily” given the ongoing lawsuit against the Trump administration, which triggers the need for DOJ involvement.

“Instead of taking the necessary steps to meet its Title VI obligations, Harvard chose to pursue a significant lawsuit against the federal government,” the memo noted. “The involvement of political entities over the months hasn’t been productive.”

Harvard has not responded to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for a statement.

Currently, both political parties are embroiled in various legal disputes. One such case involves a lawsuit from Harvard relating to an administration decision regarding budget reductions potentially affecting billions in federal funds. The university has experienced victories in these legal battles, including a successful injunction against attempts to limit access for Harvard students.

The conflict initiated in March when the Trump administration announced a review of over $8 billion in federal grants, citing Harvard’s alleged failure to protect Jewish students from discrimination and purported breaches of civil rights laws. Following that, the Department of Education proposed a resolution requiring Harvard to enact several reforms regarding its disciplinary processes for handling student and international affairs.

Initially, Harvard vowed not to comply with the administration. However, it later sought negotiations while maintaining its stance against relinquishing control to the federal government. Recently, the university has made moves to align more closely with federal expectations, including a commitment to provide documentation to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regarding employee citizenship and job eligibility.

The hesitance on Harvard’s part has already cost the institution over $2 billion in federal funding, and the Trump administration is also scrutinizing its accreditation status as well as its ability to admit international students.

It appears that Harvard might consider a concession in its ongoing dispute, with insider sources indicating that Ivy League institutions could settle for around $500 million to end the conflict.