Harvard says it will work with federal antisemitism task force amid threat of funding loss

Harvard President Alan Garber says his university will work with the federal antisemitism task force after it launched a review of the school.
 
On Monday, the task force announced it will be reviewing the $9 billion in federal grants to Harvard in a similar style investigation to that of Columbia University, which saw $400 million in funding paused and so far not restored despite concessions to the federal government. 
 
“Earlier today, the federal government’s task force to combat antisemitism issued a letter putting at risk almost $9 billion in support of research at Harvard and other institutions, including hospitals in our community. If this funding is stopped, it will halt life-saving research and imperil important scientific research and innovation,” Garber said.  
 
He said the university is committed to combating antisemitism, though the Trump administration launched the review because it believes the Ivy League institution has not done enough to stop the problem on its campus. 
 
Garber listed actions the school has taken to combat antisemitism such as strengthening disciplinary rules, enhanced training and education and launching programs to promote civil dialogue.  
 
Harvard has also fired the leadership in its Center for Middle Eastern Studies, according to The Harvard Crimson.  
 
“We still have much work to do. We will engage with members of the federal government’s task force to combat antisemitism to ensure that they have a full account of the work we have done and the actions we will take going forward to combat antisemitism,” Garber said.  
 
In the announcement of the review, the federal government emphasized its inquiry into Columbia led to the Ivy League to nine concessions, such as masks bans in most circumstances and putting certain departments under academic receivership.  
 
The Trump administration said the investigation into Harvard could also lead to a loss of federal funding. 

“Much is at stake here. In longstanding partnership with the federal government, we have launched and nurtured pathbreaking research that has made countless people healthier and safer, more curious and more knowledgeable, improving their lives, their communities, and our world. But we are not perfect. Antisemitism is a critical problem that we must and will continue to address,” Garber said.