Trump administration pulls lever to threaten Harvard's accreditation

The Education Department and Department of Health and Human Services told Harvard University's accreditor on Wednesday there is “strong evidence to suggest the school may no longer meet” accreditation standards. 

The letter to the New England Commission of Higher Education is the latest escalation in the Trump administration's multi-front effort against the nation's oldest college. Loss of accreditation would mean Harvard could not receive federal student aid.  

The federal departments said Harvard was found in violation of antidiscrimination laws and therefore its accreditor needs to work with the university or take away accreditation if Harvard fails to remedy the situation.  

“Accrediting bodies play a significant role in preserving academic integrity and a campus culture conducive to truth-seeking and learning. Part of that is ensuring students are safe on campus and abiding by federal laws that guarantee educational opportunities to all students,” said Secretary of Education Linda McMahon.  

“By allowing anti-Semitic harassment and discrimination to persist unchecked on its campus, Harvard University has failed in its obligation to students, educators, and American taxpayers. The Department of Education expects the New England Commission of Higher Education to enforce its policies and practices, and to keep the Department fully informed of its efforts to ensure that Harvard is in compliance with federal law and accreditor standards,” she added. 

The Commission released a FAQ sheet regarding the situation after Harvard was found out of Title VI compliance by the administration in June, clarifying that the federal government's findings does not mean the university automatically gets accreditation taken away. 

The Commission also said the federal government cannot force it to take away accreditation from a university. 

"The Commission’s policies and procedures, in accord with federal regulation, give institutions up to four years to come into compliance when found by the Commission to be out of compliance, which can be extended for good cause. Institutions in a non-compliance status remain accredited during this period of time," it said. 

Harvard, which did not immediately respond to The Hill's request for comment, is the second school to be turned over to its accreditor by the Trump administration after Columbia University.

A loss of accreditation is commonly called a “death sentence” among higher education advocates and has been rarely used. 

The letter to Harvard’s accreditor comes the same day the Department of Homeland Security said it would subpoena the university for “relevant information” about its foreign students, after a judge blocked the department’s directive to stop Harvard from enrolling international students. 

The administration has targeted Harvard across multiple avenues, including its federal funding, after it rejected a list of demands for administrative and academic changes. The school has filed a pair of lawsuits against the administration, saying its academic freedom is at risk.

—Updated at 9:57 a.m. EDT