The Trump administration has initiated federal investigations into Harvard University and the Harvard Law Review, citing reports of race-based discrimination within the journal’s operations. The probes, led by the U.S. Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services, focus on alleged violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, particularly regarding selection practices for journal membership and article publication. Statements from Harvard Law Review editors allegedly referencing race as a criterion in editorial decisions have prompted these actions.
The administration’s actions are part of a broader campaign targeting elite universities over diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies and alleged antisemitism. Harvard has faced a $2.2 billion freeze in federal funding due to its refusal to limit campus activism, and the administration has accused the university of fostering antisemitic environments. Other Ivy League institutions, including the University of Pennsylvania, Brown, and Princeton, have also been targeted.
Harvard officials have responded by asserting compliance with federal laws and distinguishing the independently run Law Review from the law school. The university has filed a lawsuit claiming that the administration’s demands—such as altering governance and academic content—breach First Amendment rights. A hearing is scheduled for July 21.
