An internal Department of Homeland Security memo details why the Trump administration is taking its forceful actions against Harvard University.
Harvard is “failing its students and America,” according to the memo, which was shared with The Daily Signal on Tuesday.
The Trump administration has taken a number of actions against Harvard University in recent weeks, including revoking the Ivy League school’s certification to host international students—a move that a federal judge has temporarily blocked.
“Harvard University’s leadership failed to address antisemitic riots and anti-American extremism on its campus. They even rewarded the most violent offenders,” the memo states before listing a number of examples of antisemitism on the Massachusetts college’s campus.
Less than a month after Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, a small group of students blocked the path of a Jewish classmate and reportedly shouted “shame” in the Israeli student’s face. This year, Harvard awarded one of the students involved in the antisemitic action a $65,000 Harvard Law School fellowship.
Another student involved in the same incident has been selected as class marshal by Harvard Divinity School.
Incidents such as these are why the Trump administration “is holding Harvard accountable,” according to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.
In addition to the attempt to strip Harvard of its ability to enroll foreign students, the Trump administration in April terminated $2.7 million in DHS grant funding to Harvard. The move followed Harvard’s failure to satisfy the Trump administration’s demand for Harvard to “provide records on its nonimmigrant students and information regarding misconduct or other offenses,” according to the memo.
Concerns over antisemitism on campus are not the only reason DHS is targeting Harvard. The Ivy League school is also being investigated over possible ties to the Chinese Communist Party.
“Evidence shows that Harvard researchers hosted and worked with a CCP-linked paramilitary organization that was sanctioned for being complicit in the ongoing Uyghur genocide,” the memo states, citing a congressional Republican-led investigation into the claim.
The same congressional investigation is looking into Harvard researchers allegedly using Department of Defense funds to work alongside “Chinese academics funded by Iranian government agents” and claims that Harvard “partnered with individuals who had direct ties to China’s military-industrial complex.”
The Trump administration “is holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus,” according to Noem.
In its latest move, the White House tells The Daily Signal that the Trump administration is reviewing cutting all federal government contracts with Harvard over concerns of antisemitism and racial discrimination on campus.