White House Targets Universities with Fines in Antisemitism Crackdown

The White House is seeking significant financial penalties from Harvard and other universities as part of potential settlements to resolve investigations into campus antisemitism. This approach mirrors the agreement reached with Columbia University, according to an administration official familiar with the matter.

Financial penalties have become a standard element in the proposed settlements being negotiated with Harvard and other institutions. This information comes from an official who requested anonymity to discuss internal discussions.

Historically, federal civil rights investigations into schools and universities have typically been resolved through voluntary settlements, which rarely involve financial penalties. The current administration has previously finalized numerous such agreements with universities, none of which included fines.

The Columbia settlement, which was negotiated with the previous administration, involved a $200 million fine. In exchange, Columbia regained access to federal funding and closed investigations related to allegations of tolerating harassment of Jewish students and employees.

The Columbia agreement also mandates that admissions and hiring decisions be based on merit, without considering race. It requires the university to increase its Jewish studies faculty and decrease its reliance on international students, among other changes. The agreement places Columbia under the supervision of an independent monitor and necessitates regular reporting to the government. The deal includes a clause preventing the government from directly influencing decisions on hiring, admissions, or academic matters.

The current administration is investigating numerous universities over allegations of failing to address campus antisemitism in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war. Several institutions have faced federal funding freezes, including Columbia and Harvard.