Harvard violated civil rights of Jewish students, Trump administration finds: Reports

The Trump administration has reportedly concluded that Harvard University violated federal civil rights laws by failing to protect Jewish students from harassment during campus protests, The New York Times reported on Monday.

As per reports citing two individuals familiar with the matter, a letter was sent to Harvard President Alan M Garber stating that the university did not adequately address the concerns of Jewish and Israeli students who felt unsafe during demonstrations linked to the Gaza conflict.

These findings come just weeks after a Harvard task force reportedly highlighted an ‘alienating and hostile atmosphere’ experienced by Jewish and Israeli students during the 2023–24 academic year. The Wall Street Journal was reportedly the first to reveal the contents of the letter.

The Trump administration has for months criticised Harvard for allegedly failing to tackle antisemitism on campus. More recently, as per reports, the administration has widened its focus to include inquiries into alleged discrimination against white male students in admissions and restrictions on the number of international students allowed at the university.