Washington – The Trump administration announced on Wednesday that it would issue administrative subpoenas to Harvard University to obtain information regarding its foreign students, marking a new phase in the escalating conflict between the administration and the prestigious Ivy League institution. The Department of Homeland Security stated that the request for information is linked to Harvard’s certification under the Student Visitor and Exchange Program, which allows the university to admit international students.
Earlier this year in April, the administration had initially requested detailed records from Harvard concerning alleged “illegal and violent” activities of its foreign student visa holders. Harvard indicated in court filings that it had provided the information, but the Department of Homeland Security deemed it insufficient and subsequently revoked the school’s authority to enroll international students. Harvard responded by filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration, leading to a federal judge in Boston preventing the administration from blocking the enrollment of foreign students at the university.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem accused Harvard, along with other unnamed universities, of permitting foreign students to exploit their visa privileges to promote violence and terrorism on campus. Noem emphasized that if Harvard fails to protect the interests of its students, the administration will step in to do so. The department cautioned other universities that have received similar information requests to consider Harvard’s actions and the consequences of non-compliance.
In its response to the administration’s subpoenas, Harvard affirmed its commitment to upholding the law and stated that while it believes the subpoenas are unjustified, it will continue to cooperate with lawful requests. The university criticized the administration’s retaliatory measures, characterizing them as government overreach aimed at controlling admissions, hiring decisions, and academic content at private universities. Harvard reiterated its dedication to safeguarding its community and fundamental values from what it perceives as baseless reprisals by the federal government.
Separately, the Departments of Education and Health and Human Services issued a warning to Harvard regarding its accreditation status. Both agencies informed the New England Commission of Higher Education that Harvard had breached federal antidiscrimination laws, potentially jeopardizing its accreditation. The administration accused Harvard of violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act through its treatment of Jewish and Israeli students, alleging that the university had allowed antisemitic harassment and discrimination to persist unchecked on its campus.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon called out Harvard for failing to address antisemitic incidents and emphasized the need for the university to comply with federal laws and accreditation standards. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pledged ongoing oversight of Harvard, underscoring the importance of institutions fulfilling their obligations to protect students and uphold their educational mission.
In a statement, he mentioned that the accreditation is intended to maintain standards. Since returning to the White House in January, President Trump’s administration has been actively penalizing the school for allegedly failing to address antisemitism and protect Jewish students on campus. This has resulted in the freezing of grants and contracts, as well as a focus on its international student population. In addition, there have been threats to revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status and ongoing investigations by multiple agencies. Harvard has responded by filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration regarding the removal of federal funding, with a hearing scheduled for July 21. Trump recently stated that discussions have been ongoing with Harvard and hinted at the possibility of a resolution. Despite his previous remarks accusing Harvard of being “totally antisemitic,” he now suggests that an agreement will be reached.
