Trump administration subpoenas Harvard, targets accreditation

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Three different federal agencies ratcheted up Trump’s clash with the Ivy League school.

WASHINGTON – The Trump administration is taking more swipes at Harvard University, even after the president hinted he was close to striking a deal with the school that could potentially restore its funding and resolve several lawsuits.

The Department of Homeland Security said on July 9 it would issue subpoenas to the university for records related to its international student enrollment. Harvard hasn’t fully complied with the Trump administration’s requests, Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement, amid concerns the school has “allowed foreign students to abuse their visa privileges.”

“Harvard’s been very bad – totally antisemitic,” President Trump told reporters hours after the announcement was made. “They’ll absolutely reach a deal.”

Harvard spokesperson Jason Newton called the subpoenas unwarranted. He said the university is committed to following the law and will continue to cooperate with “lawful requests” from the government.

The Trump administration’s efforts to block Harvard from enrolling foreign students, who make up a third of the school’s enrollment, have been repeatedly blocked in court.

Trump threatens Harvard’s accreditation

Two other federal agencies also took aim at Harvard on July 9.

The Education Department and the Department of Health and Human Services sent a notice to the school’s accreditor, the New England Commission of Higher Education, accusing Harvard of being noncompliant with civil rights laws.

Accreditors are independent, nonpartisan organizations recognized by the Education Department. They give schools approval to receive federal financial aid funding. It’s unclear how or whether Harvard, the oldest university in the country, could survive the unprecedented loss of its accreditation status without substantial damage to the entire campus.

Newton, the Harvard spokesperson, said the university strongly disagrees with the government’s findings related to its compliance with civil rights laws. Harvard continues to comply with its accreditor’s standards, he said.

The president of the New England Commission of Higher Education referred USA TODAY to an informational webpage about Harvard’s clashes with the Trump administration. The website states that the federal government does not have the power to revoke a college’s accreditation.

The Education Department similarly threatened Columbia University’s accreditation in June. Columbia’s accreditor, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, warned the school on June 26 that its accreditation status “may be in jeopardy,” but the school remains accredited while it’s on warning.

Zachary Schermele is an education reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach him by email at zschermele@usatoday.com. Follow him on X at @ZachSchermele and Bluesky at @zachschermele.bsky.social.

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