Broader Battle: Admissions, Antisemitism, and Federal Control
The subpoena announcement adds yet another layer to a complex legal saga. The Justice Department is investigating Harvard under the False Claims Act, probing its admissions practices and seeking influence over faculty hiring and student demographics.
Adding fuel to the fire, the administration accused Harvard last month of failing to protect Jewish and Israeli students from campus harassment following the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks and the subsequent war in Gaza. DHS claims the university may lose all federal funding if it does not comply with demands to address antisemitism.
Harvard has pushed back, citing progress and improved campus climate, with Jewish students reporting better conditions in recent months.
DHS Warning: “Other Schools Should Take Note”
The Trump administration made clear this is not just about Harvard. Wednesday’s message carried an ominous undertone for other universities that might consider resistance:
“Other academic institutions should take note of Harvard’s actions and the consequences of noncompliance,” the statement warned.
With the court date for the funding lawsuit approaching, and international students still making up roughly 25% of Harvard’s population, the fate of the university’s global academic reach now hangs in the balance.
