Harvard University’s ability to receive federal student aid is at risk after the Trump Administration informed the higher education institution’s accreditor that the university acted in violation of federal antidiscrimination laws and may no longer meet accreditation standards.
The Wednesday notice from the Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Education to the New England Commission of Higher Education is the latest escalation in the Trump Administration’s months-long battle with the university over its refusal to comply with demands including dismantling its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and changing its leadership and hiring practices.
Losing accreditation would mean the school could not receive federal student aid. Already, billions of dollars in federal funding to Harvard are in limbo as the Trump Administration has moved to strip it of numerous multi-year grants. The Administration has also sought to revoke the university’s tax-exempt status and its ability to enroll international students. On Wednesday, the Department of Homeland Security announced that it would subpoena Harvard for information regarding its student visitor and exchange program.
Harvard is fighting the Administration’s actions in the courts. The university has sued over the effort to slash its grant funding, alleging federal officials engaged in improper procedures. It filed a separate legal challenge over the Administration's attempts to revoke Harvard’s student visa certification, which allows the university to enroll foreign-born students.
HHS and the Department of Education said in their notice to Harvard’s accreditor, the New England Commission of Higher Education, that a federal review of antisemitic complaints at Harvard from Oct. 7, 2023, to the present found that the university was in violation of federal law. The Department of Education previously sent Harvard a letter on March 10 saying that it would face potential enforcement actions if it did not fulfill its legal obligation to protect Jewish students from discrimination. In late June, the Administration's antisemitism task force—which was created following pro-Palestinian protests at colleges and universities across the country— informed Harvard that it had acted with indifference regarding on-campus harassment towards Jewish and Israeli students.
“Accrediting bodies play a significant role in preserving academic integrity and a campus culture conducive to truth-seeking and learning. Part of that is ensuring students are safe on campus and abiding federal laws that guarantee educational opportunities to all students,” Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said in a statement. “By allowing antisemitic harassment and discrimination to persist unchecked on its campus, Harvard University has failed in its obligation to students, educators, and American taxpayers.”
The warning against Harvard follows the Department of Education’s push to revoke Columbia University’s accreditation in early June, citing similar alleged violations of antidiscrimination laws.
“Antisemitism is a serious problem and no matter the context, it is unacceptable. Harvard has taken substantive, proactive steps to address the root causes of antisemitism in its community,” Harvard said in a statement to TIME. “Harvard is far from indifferent on this issue and strongly disagrees with the government’s findings.” The university said it complied with the federal investigation, sharing a report on antisemitism and anti-Israeli bias with investigators, and outlined policy changes on campus.
The New England Commission of Higher Education directed TIME to a frequently asked questions page on its website. The Commission wrote that institutions under investigation do not immediately lose their accreditation, and have “up to four years to come into compliance,” though that timeline can also be extended.
“Institutions in a non-compliance status remain accredited during this period of time,” the site says.
Harvard University has been accredited since 1929.Its next comprehensive evaluation visit is scheduled for fall 2027.
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