Since returning to office in January 2025, President Donald Trump has intensified scrutiny of elite universities over antisemitism and political ideology.

The crackdown began after a 2023 congressional hearing where then-Harvard president Claudine Gay’s comments on hate speech sparked outrage and her eventual resignation. Harvard responded with reforms, including tougher protest rules and expanded protections for Jewish students. Still, the Trump administration claims the university hasn’t done enough and is now threatening to cut billions in federal funding unless Harvard complies with new federal policies, including reporting and deporting foreign students who allegedly support terrorism.

Harvard has pushed back, filing a lawsuit claiming the administration’s actions violate the First Amendment and federal procedure. The Anti-Defamation League and Harvard’s Hillel group support combating antisemitism but warn that funding threats could backfire and harm Jewish students. Trump’s January executive order continues to fuel the administration’s legal and political pressure on universities, with Harvard becoming the central battleground.