Harvard University is officially on notice. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has issued a stern warning to the Ivy League school: comply with federal demands or face being stripped from the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), which would block Harvard from enrolling foreign students. The university has until April 30 to respond.
The move follows growing concerns about Harvard’s tolerance of antisemitic rhetoric and extremist activism on campus. Noem canceled two federal grants totaling $2.7 million and accused the university of “fuel[ing] a cesspool of extremist riots and threaten[ing] our national security” and bending the knee to antisemitic voices. As part of the Department of Homeland Security’s crackdown, Harvard must provide detailed records of all foreign students involved in protests or activities that promote terrorism and antisemitism.
Backing the effort, President Trump has vowed to go even further—promising to freeze federal funding and revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status. His move comes in response to what he calls the university’s failure to address a surge in antisemitism on campus following Hamas’s terror attack on Israel.
The Department of Education is also reviewing Harvard’s funding as pressure mounts from lawmakers demanding the dismantling of Harvard’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs—widely blamed for cultivating divisive identity politics and shielding radical ideologies under the guise of academic freedom.
While Harvard has pushed back in recent months, its defiance may soon come at a cost. With Sec Noem and President Trump turning up the heat, the message is clear: America’s top institutions are not above accountability—especially when national security and decency are on the line.