Key facts
- The Justice Department is investigating Harvard University's financial aid programs.
- The probe focuses on whether foreign-funded scholarships exclude U.S. citizens, potentially violating civil rights laws.
- Harvard has accepted $630 million from Chinese sources over decades and $4.5 billion in total foreign funding.
- The university stated it adheres to legal obligations and does not unlawfully discriminate in financial aid.
- This investigation is part of a broader pattern of federal inquiries by the Trump administration into Harvard.
The U.S. Department of Justice has opened a new review into Harvard University's financial aid programs, investigating whether the institution engages in discrimination against American citizens through scholarships funded by foreign donors. This inquiry adds to a series of federal investigations initiated by the Trump administration against the Ivy League school.
Justice Department officials announced the review, citing concerns that Harvard's "China-based financial aid programs" might illegally exclude U.S. students based on their national origin. The department emphasized that no conclusions have been reached. Harmeet Dhillon, head of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, stated that accepting foreign funds to provide financial aid that deliberately excludes American citizens is illegal.
Harvard, in response, stated that it complies with legal requirements for reporting donations and does not unlawfully discriminate in allocating financial aid. The university has accepted significant foreign funding, including $630 million from Chinese sources over decades and approximately $4.5 billion overall. The Justice Department referenced these figures without singling out specific donors or programs.
This investigation is a compliance review, initiated by the government rather than a response to a complaint. Unlike most U.S. universities, Harvard offers need-based scholarships to international students on the same terms as domestic students, using its own funds. However, some foreign donors have specifically earmarked gifts for international students, such as a $15 million donation in 2014 from Chinese couple Pan Shiyi and Zhang Xin to support Chinese students at Harvard.
The Justice Department's legal argument posits that directing private funding to students of specific countries constitutes a civil rights violation for U.S. students. The administration has previously targeted Harvard on issues related to "wokeness" and alleged antisemitism, and has sought to limit foreign student enrollment and investigate its admissions process.