The Trump administration announced Monday a major federal review of $9 billion in grants and contracts at Harvard University, citing the school’s failure to protect Jewish students from antisemitic discrimination.  The review, conducted as part of the Joint Task Force to Combat Antisemitism, will involve audits by the Departments of Education and Health and Human Services, along with the U.S. General Services Administration. Federal officials will scrutinize over $255.6 million in contracts between Harvard and the U.S. government, in addition to more than $8.7 billion in multi-year grant commitments. U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon delivered a sharp rebuke of Harvard’s handling of antisemitic incidents on campus, warning that the university’s reputation is at stake. “Harvard has served as a symbol of the American dream for generations—the pinnacle aspiration for students all over the world to work hard and earn admission to the storied institution,” McMahon stated. “Harvard’s failure to protect students on campus from antisemitic discrimination—all while promoting divisive ideologies over free inquiry—has put its reputation in serious jeopardy.” She added that Harvard has an opportunity to “right these wrongs” and restore itself as an institution dedicated to academic excellence and truth-seeking, but that federal intervention would proceed if necessary. The administration’s announcement follows a similar crackdown on Columbia University, which resulted in the school agreeing to nine federal demands, including a ban on masked protests. That agreement ignited controversy and led to the resignation of Columbia’s interim president last week. Now, the Trump administration is sending a clear signal that Harvard could face similar consequences. Federal officials warned that stop-work orders could be issued on Harvard’s contracts, and if the university is found noncompliant with federal regulations, its federal funding could be terminated entirely. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)