A Harvard University logo appears on a sweatshirt on display in Harvard Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S., on Friday, Sept. 4, 2009. (Photo by Michael Fein/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
President Trump called for a federal investigation by the Department of Justice into Harvard University’s China-related academic programs, arguing the school is acting as a shill, allowing Chinese donors to create scholarships that exclude American students.
What we know:
Officials announced the review Monday, saying Harvard’s foreign-funding disclosures "raised concerns" about potential discrimination against U.S. students. The department did not identify which scholarship programs are under scrutiny.
Dig deeper:
The inquiry focuses on Harvard’s "China-based financial aid programs," the Justice Department said. According to federal officials, Chinese doors have contributed more money earmarked for financial aid restricted to students from certain countries, which would violate civil rights protections that were designed to prevent discrimination based on national origin.
The other side:
Harvard issued a written response, saying, "Harvard follows the law for required reporting of donations and, consistent with our legal obligations under Title VI, does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, or national origin in allocating financial aid."
Big picture view:
Like many U.S. universities, Harvard receives foreign funding through donations and contracts. The Trump administration has pressed for greater transparency, saying that money from foreign adversaries can pose national security risks. Harvard has collected $630 million from Chinese sources over the past few decades, according to federal disclosures.
The backstory:
The Trump administration has opened up multiple federal inquiries against Harvard University as part of their broader effort to reshape higher education. The White House has openly pushed to combat "wokeness" and address antisemitism in American higher education.
The Source: This story was written with information provided by The Associated Press. This story was reported from Orlando.