The Trump administration has formally requested that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) revoke Harvard University’s 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, citing the Ivy League school’s alleged failure to address rampant antisemitism on its campus.
According to sources within the Department of Justice, first reported by Fox News and later corroborated by CNN, the IRS is expected to issue a final decision on Harvard’s tax exemption in the coming weeks.
In a series of blistering social media posts, President Donald Trump slammed Harvard’s leadership, accusing the university of betraying its historic reputation by hiring “woke, Radical Left, idiots and ‘birdbrains.’” Trump argued that the institution, once revered as a beacon of academic excellence, had become a “joke” that promotes “hate and stupidity” rather than intellectual growth.
“Harvard has lost its way and no longer deserves federal funding,” Trump wrote, also pointing to the recent plagiarism scandal involving the university’s president as an example of its declining standards.
The move to challenge Harvard’s tax status follows a sweeping Department of Education investigation into the university’s handling of antisemitism, launched just weeks ago. As part of the crackdown, federal authorities are reviewing over $255 million in government contracts and nearly $9 billion in grants tied to Harvard and its affiliates.
“Harvard has symbolized the American Dream for generations,” said Education Secretary Linda McMahon. “But its failure to protect Jewish students from antisemitic harassment — while championing divisive ideologies — has seriously damaged its standing.”
The effort mirrors similar actions taken against Columbia University, as the Trump administration intensifies its broader campaign to hold elite institutions accountable for fostering environments hostile to Jewish students.
If the IRS rules against Harvard, the repercussions would be historic — stripping the nation’s oldest university of a coveted financial protection it has enjoyed for centuries.
A final decision is expected soon.