US govt seeks to make Harvard ineligible for federal funding

US President Donald Trump’s administration expanded its campaign against Harvard University on Sept 29, as the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said it would start a process that could lead to the school becoming ineligible for federal funding.

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Mr Donald Trump's administration has launched a campaign to leverage federal funding to force changes at Harvard (above) and other varsities. PHOTO: REUTERS

(REUTERS)

HHS’ Office for Civil Rights said it had referred Harvard to the office within the department responsible for administrative suspension and debarment proceedings, a move that opened the door to the Ivy League school being barred from entering into contracts with all government agencies or receiving federal funding.

Its announcement came after the Office for Civil Rights in July referred the school to the US Department of Justice to address allegations that it failed to address discrimination and harassment against Jewish and Israeli students on its campus.