The Trump administration is reviewing cutting all federal government contracts with Harvard University due to concerns about antisemitism and racial discrimination, a senior White House official shared with The Daily Signal.
The General Services Administration is assisting all federal agencies in a review for termination or transition of their federal government contracts with Harvard University and affiliates.
“We recommend that your agency terminate for convenience each contract that it determines has failed to meet its standards, and transition to a new vendor those contracts that could be better serviced by an alternative counterparty,” a letter to government agencies says. “Going forward, we also encourage your agency to seek alternative vendors for future services where you had previously considered Harvard.”
Harvard and its affiliates have more than $255.6 million in contracts, according to the Department of Education.
This is the latest development in President Donald Trump’s battle with Harvard after the university refused to comply with executive orders banning diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in education.
The Trump administration stripped Harvard of its ability to enroll foreign students on Friday, accusing the school of failing to heed the law.
Harvard filed a lawsuit against the administration the same day in response to the Department of Homeland Security revoking the school’s certification to host international students.
A federal judge on Friday issued a decision temporarily blocking this latest action against Harvard, meaning that for now, foreign students can continue attending the university.
In April, the Trump administration announced was moving to freeze $2.2 billion in grants and $60 million in contracts to Harvard.
The review of Harvard’s government contracts aligns with the administration’s directive that all federal contracted services uphold and advance agency strategic priorities, according to the senior White House official.
“As you know, being a counterparty with the federal government comes with the deep responsibility and commitment to abide by all federal laws and ensure the safeguarding of taxpayer money,” Josh Gruenbaum, commissioner of the Federal Acquisition Service within GSA, wrote in a letter to federal agencies.
“As a fiduciaries to the taxpayer, the government has a duty to ensure that procurement dollars are directed to vendors and contractors who promote and champion principles of nondiscrimination and the national interest,” Gruenbaum continued.
Harvard continues to engage in racial discrimination in its admissions process and in other areas, as evidenced by the Supreme Court case Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, Gruenbaum said.
In Students for Fair Admissions, the Supreme Court rebuked Harvard’s policy and practice of discriminating on the basis of race. At the time, admissions rates were: 56% for African Americans; 31% for Hispanics; 15% for whites; and 13% for Asians.
“Since then, troubling revelations have come to light regarding Harvard and its affiliates’ potential discriminatory hiring practices and possible violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964,” Gruenbaum wrote. “Harvard is suspected of engaging in a pattern or practice of disparate treatment in hiring, promotion, compensation, and other personnel related actions.”
The General Services Administration is also reviewing incidents of antisemitism at Harvard. For instance, an anti-Israel protester charged for assaulting a Jewish student was awarded a $65,000 fellowship by Harvard Law Review.
Another protester who was charged served as Harvard Divinity School’s Class Marshal for commencement.
“Harvard’s ongoing inaction in the face of repeated and severe harassment and targeting of its students has at times grounded day-to-day campus operations to a halt, deprived Jewish students of learning and research opportunities to which they are entitled, and profoundly alarmed the general public,” according to Gruenbaum.
GSA looks forward to assisting agencies in terminating or transitioning contracts, Gruenbaum said.