HHS Looks to Block Harvard From Federal Funds

"The HHS Office for Civil Rights previously found that Harvard violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bars discrimination based on race, color and national origin, and acted with "deliberate indifference toward discrimination and harassment against Jewish and Israeli students," according to an HHS news release. Now HHS OCR has recommended cutting off federal funding to Harvard "to protect the public interest" through a suspension and debarment process operated by the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Financial Resources."

"Suspension would be temporary and debarment would last "for a specified period as a final determination that an entity is not responsible enough to do business with the federal government because of the wrongdoing," according to the agency. The move comes less than two weeks after the Education Department placed Harvard on heightened cash monitoring -a highly unusual move given the university's significant resources."

HHS Office for Civil Rights recommended cutting off Harvard's eligibility for federal funding through a suspension and debarment process to protect the public interest. OCR previously found that Harvard violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act by acting with deliberate indifference toward discrimination and harassment against Jewish and Israeli students. Suspension would be temporary and debarment would be a specified-period denial of federal business eligibility because of wrongdoing. The move follows the Education Department placing Harvard on heightened cash monitoring and occurs amid a broader dispute with the White House over allegations of antisemitism and requested institutional changes. Harvard did not respond.

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