Harvard’s Legal Battle with Trump Deepens Over New Discrimination Claims

Harvard University’s ongoing legal battle with the Trump administration has deepened considerably with new claims of discrimination against Jewish students, threatening all federal funding. The administration’s investigation concluded that the civil rights of Jewish students were violated, and that Harvard was at times a “willful participant in anti-Semitic harassment.”
This development adds a new and serious dimension to the conflict, which has already seen Harvard lose over $2.6 billion in federal funding. This previous financial penalty was due to Harvard’s refusal to accept President Trump’s demands for a massive overhaul in campus hiring, admissions, and governance. The current threat signals a heightened level of legal and financial pressure.
The contentious relationship also includes President Trump’s earlier criticisms of Harvard’s international student enrollment. He had suggested that elite institutions like Harvard should cap foreign student admissions at around 15%, arguing that the current 31% at Harvard hindered American students from gaining entry. This concern highlighted a broader focus on prioritizing American applicants.
The dispute reached a legal peak when the administration revoked Harvard’s certification to enroll international students, which Harvard promptly challenged with a lawsuit, citing unconstitutional retaliation. Despite the intensity of these conflicts, President Trump recently announced ongoing negotiations with Harvard officials, expressing optimism for a “mindbogglingly’ HISTORIC” settlement beneficial to the country.