❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Trump administration announced plans to issue subpoenas to Harvard University for information about alleged misconduct involving foreign students.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Department of Education, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and Harvard University.
📍WHEN & WHERE: The announcement was made on Wednesday, July 9, with actions targeting Harvard University.
💬KEY QUOTE: “We tried to do things the easy way with Harvard. Now, through their refusal to cooperate, we have to do things the hard way,” said DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin.
🎯IMPACT: The move could lead to Harvard losing its accreditation, affecting student eligibility for federal financial aid.
President Donald J. Trump’s Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Wednesday that it intends to issue subpoenas for information Harvard University may have on any misconduct, anti-Semitism, or illegal activities connected to foreign students. The move marks the latest escalation in an ongoing dispute between the Trump White House and Harvard that has already seen the Ivy League institution potentially lose billions in federal funding.
In addition to the subpoenas announced by DHS, the Departments of Education and Health and Human Services (HHS) revealed they have notified Harvard’s accreditor that the university violated federal law by failing to address reported harassment of Jewish students. Consequently, Harvard could lose its accreditation, potentially making its students ineligible for federal financial assistance.
Notably, the administrative subpoenas from DHS are in response to Harvard refusing to provide requested information regarding its Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification. “We tried to do things the easy way with Harvard. Now, through their refusal to cooperate, we have to do things the hard way,” said DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin in a statement.
The National Pulse reported in late May that President Trump had drawn a firm line on Harvard’s refusal to hand over the names of its foreign students to his administration. “Harvard wants to fight. They want to show how smart they are, and they’re getting their ass kicked,” Trump said at the time.
Already, the Trump administration has frozen $3 billion in federal funding, moved to strip Harvard of its SEVP certification, and blocked new foreign visa appointments.
Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.