Federal Task Force Scrutinizing Harvard’s Contracts in Anti-Semitism Probe
The Departments of Education and Health and Human Services, and the General Services Administration will examine $8.7 billion in contracts and grants awarded to Harvard University as part of an ongoing joint task force investigation into campus anti-Semitism, the agencies announced on March 31.
“Harvard’s failure to protect students on campus from anti-Semitic discrimination—all while promoting divisive ideologies over free inquiry—has put its reputation in serious jeopardy,” McMahon stated.
“Harvard can right these wrongs and restore itself to a campus dedicated to academic excellence and truth-seeking, where all students feel safe on its campus.”
The agencies involved with the Harvard investigation will assess whether “stop work orders” will be issued on the university’s contracts.
The Boston-based school was also directed to list all affiliates that receive taxpayer money through these contracts, according to the statement.
Officials did not disclose additional steps in the investigation beyond contract review.
“The task force will continue its efforts to root out anti-Semitism and to refocus our institutions of higher learning on the core values that undergird a liberal education,” Sean Keveney, Health and Human Services acting general counsel, said.
“We are pleased that Harvard is willing to engage with us on these goals.”
Any institution found to violate federal compliance standards may face administrative actions, including contract termination, Federal Acquisition Service Commissioner Josh Gruenbaum said in the release.
“Hate in any form goes against the foundational principles of America. While Harvard’s recent actions to curb institutionalized anti-Semitism—though long overdue—are welcome, there is much more that the university must do to retain the privilege of receiving federal [taxpayers’] hard earned dollars,” Gruenbaum stated.
“This administration has proven that we will take swift action to hold institutions accountable if they allow anti-Semitism to fester. We will not hesitate to act if Harvard fails to do so.”
The Epoch Times reached out to Harvard University for a response.
Harvard is among the 60 U.S. colleges and universities under investigation by the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights for Title VI violations related to accusations of harassment and discrimination of Jewish students following the Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
Former Harvard President Claudine Gay resigned in January 2024 following allegations that she didn’t do enough to stop a wave of anti-Semitism on campus.
A group of Jewish students then filed a lawsuit alleging that the university egregiously violated their civil rights.
McMahon’s announcement comes a week after she confirmed that Columbia University in New York complied with nine conditions to address campus anti-Semitism following an investigation of that Ivy League institution, which also faced federal funding losses for noncompliance.
Former Columbia University President Minouche Shafik resigned in August, also amid criticisms of how she handled protests and anti-Semitic disruptions on campus.
