DOJ opens civil rights probe of Harvard's China aid

The U.S. Department of Justice has opened a civil rights investigation into Harvard University to determine whether financial aid programs funded by Chinese donors unlawfully discriminate against American students. The review, announced on July 20, 2026, focuses on whether Harvard accepted foreign contributions with restrictions that give preference to students from specific countries, potentially disadvantaging U.S. citizens.

The Justice Department's Civil Rights Division initiated the compliance review after an audit of Harvard's federally mandated foreign funding disclosures. Officials stated that the audit uncovered multiple gifts and contracts from China-based sources that allegedly restrict the use of funds to provide financial aid with a preference for students from particular countries. The department contends that if Harvard adhered to these donor restrictions, it may have steered aid toward foreign students based on national origin, a potential violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. That law prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin by institutions that receive federal funding.

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon emphasized the...