The Harvard University Action Plan to Combat Anti-Semitism: Students, Faculty, and Pro-Palestinian Protests in the Confronting the Trump Administration

Harvard University rejected requests from the Trump administration that it make major changes to its policies and eliminate its diversity, equity and inclusion programs. The federal funding for the university is at stake.

“No government,” Garber wrote, “regardless of which party is in power — should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue.”

In a letter rejecting the government’s demands, Harvard’s lawyers outlined the steps the university has taken in the past 15 months to address antisemitism on its campus, including imposing “meaningful discipline for those who violate university policies” and hiring staff to support such programs.

There are allegations of violations of civil rights laws by some universities that have been targeted by the Trump administration. Following a year of pro-Palestinian protests on Columbia University’s campus, the administration cut $400 million in federal money for the institution. In addition, funding for Cornell University andNorthwestern University was frozen.

University leaders told NPR that they had to cope with demands from the federal government while also trying to focus on their students and education.

The Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitic was looking at multi-year grant commitments to Harvard, as well as $9 billion in federal contracts.

“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,” wrote U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. “Harvard can right these wrongs,” she added, “and restore itself to a campus dedicated to academic excellence and truth-seeking, where all students feel safe on its campus.”

Harvard’s lawyers wrote that the requested changes were in violation of the university’s First Amendment rights and exceeded the legal limits of the government’s authority to enforce civil rights laws

Hours after Harvard’s lawyers sent a formal rejection of the administration’s demands, the government’s Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism responded:

Reply to Garber’s Letter to the State Dept. of Education and Research: “Enforcing Innovation, Innovation, and Innovation in the Learning Economy”

“The disruption of learning that has plagued campuses in recent years is unacceptable,” the statement continued. It is time for universities to make change if they want to keep getting taxpayer support.

Asked for a response late Monday, a Harvard spokesperson referred back to Garber’s letter, which noted that: “For the government to retreat from these partnerships now risks not only the health and well-being of millions of individuals, but also the economic security and vitality of our nation.”