politics
Trump Administration Launches Probes into Harvard University Over Antisemitism and Admissions Practices
The Trump administration has initiated two federal investigations into Harvard University for alleged violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, focusing on campus antisemitism and race-based admissions preferences. The Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights issued a Letter of Impending Enforcement Action due to Harvard's refusal to provide requested admissions information.
Apr 6, 7:00 AM·2m read1 source
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The Trump administration has launched two probes into Harvard University under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. One investigation examines the university's handling of antisemitism on campus. The other addresses allegations of illegal race-based preferences in admissions, following the Supreme Court's ruling in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard.
The Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) opened a review in May 2025 to assess whether Harvard continued using racial preferences in undergraduate admissions. Harvard received a Letter of Impending Enforcement Action for not providing the requested information. The university has 20 calendar days to comply.
Failure to comply could lead to enforcement actions, including referral to the Department of Justice, according to the Department of Education.
“Harvard University should know better. Its name will always be tied to the landmark Supreme Court case that found sweeping racial discrimination in admissions and the campus has been in the spotlight for tolerating egregious antisemitic harassment for years now.”
Alexander Kestenbaum, a Harvard alumnus known as 'Shabbos,' commented on the probes. Kestenbaum stated that the actions represent "promises made, promises kept." He told Fox News Digital that Harvard's refusal to cooperate contrasts with its responses to other issues.
Kestenbaum and other students sued Harvard in Kestenbaum v. Harvard over the university's alleged inaction on antisemitism. The case resulted in a confidential settlement in May 2025. Kestenbaum noted that the Department of Justice has cited the lawsuit in related matters.
