The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has initiated proceedings that could revoke Harvard University’s eligibility to receive federal grants and contracts, escalating a high-profile dispute between the Trump administration and the Ivy League institution.
In a statement released Monday, HHS’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) confirmed that it had referred Harvard to the federal suspension and debarment process — a rare but powerful administrative mechanism that allows the government to deem an entity “not responsible” to do business with federal agencies.
If finalized, the move could sever Harvard’s access to billions of dollars in federal research and education funding across multiple agencies, including the Department of Defense and the National Science Foundation. The potential debarment would effectively override a recent federal court order that restored $2.7 billion in previously frozen research grants.
According to the HHS press release, the referral stems from a June finding that Harvard acted with “deliberate indifference” toward antisemitism on its campus, allegedly violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Title VI prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance.
“OCR’s referral of Harvard for formal administrative proceedings reflects OCR’s commitment to safeguard both taxpayer investments and the broader public interest,” said Paula M. Stannard, Director of the Office for Civil Rights.
A Rare Enforcement Action
Debarment is an uncommon enforcement measure typically reserved for cases involving fraud, gross misconduct, or repeated regulatory violations. The process often begins with a temporary suspension, lasting up to one year, during which the institution is barred from new federal funding. After review, a permanent debarment can be imposed for a defined period, blocking access to all federal contracts and grants government-wide.
HHS has given Harvard 20 days to request a formal hearing before an HHS administrative law judge to contest the proposed action. If Harvard does not respond within that period, the suspension could proceed automatically pending further review.
Broader Legal Context
This development follows months of mounting tension between Harvard and the Trump administration. In late July, HHS referred the matter to the Department of Justice, signaling that litigation may follow. Harvard, for its part, has condemned the allegations, arguing that the antisemitism claims are being used as a pretext for political interference in the University’s governance.
Notably, Monday’s action is distinct from another ongoing HHS investigation launched in April into allegations of race-based discrimination at the Harvard Law Review, an independent student-run publication at Harvard Law School.
Legal experts note that a federal debarment of an institution as large as Harvard would be unprecedented and could reshape how the government enforces civil rights compliance among major research universities.
