Trump administration escalates scrutiny of Harvard with new civil rights probes

Washington— The administration of Donald Trump said on Monday it has launched two new investigations into Harvard University, intensifying its oversight of elite academic institutions over alleged violations of federal civil rights law.

The U.S. Department of Education said its Office for Civil Rights opened the probes to examine claims that Harvard continues to discriminate against students based on race, color and national origin, in potential breach of federal statutes.

According to the department, one investigation will assess whether Harvard has continued to apply race-based preferences in admissions following the U.S. Supreme Court affirmative action ruling 2023 that effectively ended affirmative action in higher education.

A second probe will examine allegations of antisemitism on campus, reflecting broader concerns about discrimination and student safety at U.S. universities.

Harvard did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The university has previously said it opposes all forms of discrimination and is working to address bias on campus.

Internal task force reports released by Harvard last year found that both Jewish and Muslim students had experienced incidents of bigotry and abuse, underscoring tensions within campus communities.

The investigations mark the latest move by the Trump administration targeting leading universities, as federal authorities increase scrutiny of admissions practices and campus environments in the wake of the Supreme Court’s ruling.