Harvard University has been at the forefront of President Donald Trump‘s efforts to curtail antisemitism in higher education. The Ivy League institution has pushed back against these efforts more than other schools have, becoming the first to sue the Trump administration, now having sued twice.
The Trump administration has withheld billions in federal funding from Harvard over the school’s alleged failure to address antisemitism, offering a list of policy changes for the funding to be returned, targeted its diversity, equity, and inclusion policies through the False Claims Act, and most recently attempted to block the school from admitting international students.
Here is a timeline of Trump’s battles with Harvard since he took office in January.
Trump signs executive order targeting antisemitism on campus
Nine days into his second term, Trump signed an executive order focused on antisemitism at colleges and universities. He did not name any specific universities, but cited a joint report by several government agencies that called the government’s lack of protection of Jewish students “astounding.”
Trump ordered the creation of reports on higher education establishments with known allegations of antisemitism, so the government can identify “relevant authorities to curb or combat” such behavior and make recommendations on how to do so.
Trump creates a task force to rid higher education of antisemitism
The Department of Justice announced on Feb. 3 the creation of an antisemitism task force involving the Departments of Education and Health and Human Services, among other agencies.
The Task Force to Combat Antisemitism, led by Leo Terrell, Senior Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, sent a letter to 60 colleges and universities through the Education Department, notifying them of the investigations they were under.
Trump administration announces review of Harvard’s federal funding
Harvard was notified on March 31 that the government would review its $8.7 billion in federal funding. Harvard’s president, Alan Garber, responded by releasing a statement stating the steps the university would take to protect its Jewish students, but also said that a funding freeze would delay life-saving scientific research.
The task force sent a letter with 10 immediate demands for Harvard to follow to keep its federal funding, including the discontinuation of DEI and reform of programs the administration believes “fuel antisemitic harassment.”
The task force announces a freeze of $2.2 billion
After Harvard announced in a letter on April 14 that it would not comply with the Trump administration’s list of demands, the task force announced that it would freeze $2.2 billion in grants, citing Harvard’s statement as proof of its “troubling mindset.”
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) and Chairwoman of House Republican Leadership Elise Stefanik (R-NY) notified Garber on April 17 that they would launch their own investigation in the House. Trump also said he was considering revoking Harvard’s tax-exempt status.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon also sent a letter to Garber, which she posted on X, detailing the administration’s grievances with the school and that it would no longer be provided grants.
“Harvard should no longer seek GRANTS from the federal government, as none will be provided,” McMahon said.
Harvard files lawsuits against the administration
Harvard filed a lawsuit on April 21 after the $2.2 billion freeze, arguing the administration violated its First Amendment rights by imposing conditional funding. The task force then pulled another $450 million in funding because the school improperly addressed the issues brought up by the administration.
Schools receiving federal funding must abide by civil rights laws, and the government can pull funding over civil rights violations. The Trump administration pulled funding from Harvard over Title VI violations related to antisemitism, but has also pulled funding from other schools over Title IX violations related to the allowing of transgender-identifying biological males to compete in women’s sports.
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION BLOCKS ADMISSION OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS INTO HARVARD
Earlier this week, the Trump administration announced it would use the False Claims Act to target universities, including Harvard, over civil rights violations. It takes Trump’s previous actions a step further by accusing the schools of fraud for accepting federal funds tied to their compliance with civil rights laws.
Harvard sued Trump again on Friday, this time over the Department of Homeland Security’s blockage of international student enrollment. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem sent a letter to the institution criticizing its failure to address antisemitism, concerns over connections to the Chinese Communist Party, and its refusal to end DEI initiatives.
