Trump threatens to revoke Harvard's accreditation and launches a new offensive against foreign students.

247 - The administration of US President Donald Trump has once again escalated its confrontation with Harvard University, warning that the institution's accreditation may be at risk. The information was released by Bloomberg on Wednesday (9). 

The government also formally issued subpoenas to compel the university to hand over documents related to foreign students, including disciplinary records and materials on protest activities.

Accusations of antisemitism and pressure for accreditation.

The Departments of Education and Health and Human Services notified the New England Commission on Higher Education (NECHE), which is responsible for accreditation of HarvardFederal authorities have alleged that the university is violating anti-discrimination laws, particularly following incidents of antisemitism on campus amid the conflict between Israel and Hamas. According to federal agencies, Harvard is failing to meet the standards required to maintain its accreditation.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon said the administration is “negotiating hard” not only with Harvard, but also with Columbia University. “I think we’re close to resolving this. Not as fast as I’d like, but we’re getting there,” she said at a cabinet meeting Tuesday.

Dispute over information and budget freeze

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) alleged that Harvard ignored repeated voluntary requests for cooperation, and therefore it was necessary to issue formal subpoenas. The measure seeks documents, communications, and records dating back to January 1, 2020, that may be relevant to the application of U.S. immigration laws.

Amid the impasse, the government Trump The government froze more than $2,4 billion in federal funding for research conducted by the university and threatened its tax exemption. The institution, in turn, filed a lawsuit against the government and obtained an injunction preventing the ban on enrollment of new international students.

“The government tried to resolve things amicably with Harvard. Now, given their refusal to cooperate, we will have to take more severe measures,” declared Assistant Secretary of the DHS, Tricia McLaughlin.

Harvard reacts and denounces abuse of power.

University spokesperson Jason Newton responded that Harvard meets accreditation standards and has been addressing the problem of antisemitism seriously, including reforming policies and publishing a specific report on the subject. "Harvard has taken significant steps to combat prejudice, hatred, and intolerance. We know this work is ongoing and shared by many institutions," he stated.

Newton described the summons as "unjustified" and said the university will continue to cooperate with "legal requests and legitimate obligations." He believes the administration's actions represent a "harmful abuse of power."

"Harvard remains steadfast in its commitment to protecting its community and its principles in the face of unfounded retaliation from the federal government," he added.

Pressure on the accreditation system

Trump has referred to accreditation as his "secret weapon" for reforming higher education and has promised to create new evaluation bodies that impose "real standards" on institutions, including eliminating administrative positions deemed unnecessary and upholding freedom of speech.

NECHE stated in a press release on its website that it is aware of the letter sent by the federal government and emphasized that it takes its role of monitoring institutions under investigation seriously, in accordance with its internal policies and procedures. Harvard is scheduled to undergo another comprehensive review by the commission in 2027. The last one took place in 2017.

Government pressure also extended to Columbia University. In June, the Department of Education indicated that the institution was not in compliance with accreditation standards because it allegedly demonstrated "deliberate indifference" to the harassment of Jewish students. The Mid-Atlantic Commission warned that Columbia's accreditation is "at risk" due to "insufficient evidence" of a respectful university environment.

Accreditation is crucial for the functioning of universities, as it guarantees access to federal student funding and ensures the quality of education for students, professors, and employers.