The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has terminated $60 million in federal grants to Harvard University, citing the institution’s “continued failure to address antisemitic harassment and racial discrimination” on campus.
The decision, announced on Monday via HHS’s official X account, follows broader federal action by President Donald Trump's administration, which has frozen or revoked nearly $3 billion in grants and contracts to the Ivy League university in recent weeks.
According to officials, Harvard has failed to adequately respond to rising allegations of antisemitism, particularly linked to last year’s student protests.
HHS is taking decisive action to uphold civil rights in higher education. Due to Harvard University’s continued failure to address anti-Semitic harassment and race discrimination, HHS is terminating multiple multi-year grant awards—totaling approximately $60 million over their… pic.twitter.com/99aUd4ZVYF
— HHS.gov (@HHSGov) May 20, 2025
The administration also criticised the university for considering ethnicity in admissions decisions and for alleged tolerance of anti-Jewish discrimination.
Harvard, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, has not yet responded to the latest move but previously stated that it "cannot absorb the entire cost" of frozen grants and is assisting researchers in seeking alternative funding sources.
The university is currently suing the Trump administration over the grant suspensions.
Earlier this month, Harvard settled a high-profile lawsuit filed by an Orthodox Jewish student who accused the university of ignoring antisemitic incidents.
The settlement followed the institution’s announcement of new protections for Jewish students, following two lawsuits alleging widespread antisemitism on campus.
Columbia University in New York has also come under federal scrutiny amid similar claims.
President Trump, since assuming office in January 2025, has pushed to reform higher education institutions, claiming they are dominated by "radical left" ideologies while the US Department of Education has suspended billions of dollars in future federal research grants and aid to Harvard University.
Trump administration's demands encompass banning face masks at protests, ensuring law enforcement can arrest "agitators" on campus, and adopting a controversial definition of antisemitism that could include criticism of Israel.
Harvard has rejected these demands, describing them as unconstitutional and an overreach threatening academic freedom and research.
In response, Trump administration has threatened it will revoke Harvard University's tax-exempt status.
The university has filed a lawsuit, arguing that the funding cuts jeopardize crucial medical and scientific research and negatively affect students and staff.
Despite its $53 billion endowment, Harvard emphasised that much of its funds are restricted for specific uses like scholarships.
The university's reliance on federal funding is significant, with approximately $686 million in federal funding received in fiscal year 2024, accounting for 11% of its operating revenue.
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