Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Today, Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) released a detailed investigative update highlighting major flaws in Harvard University’s response to antisemitic events on its campus. Documents obtained by the Committee in its antisemitism investigation reveal that Harvard’s Antisemitism Advisory Group (AAG) presented significant recommendations to Harvard’s leaders on steps the university should take to address antisemitism, but these were never made public or implemented.
 
The Committee’s investigative update releases the AAG’s recommendations and presents additional findings, including that the AAG found antisemitic harassment to be a significant problem at Harvard and that a majority of the AAG threatened to resign over concerns regarding the inadequacy of Harvard’s actions. The findings outlined in the investigative update are based on documents produced to the Committee in response to its February 16 subpoena as well as the Committee’s March 18 transcribed interview with AAG Member Dr. Dara Horn. 
 
“The Committee’s report proves that former President Gay and Harvard’s leadership propped up the university’s Antisemitism Advisory Group all for show,” said Chairwoman Foxx. “Not only did the AAG find that antisemitism was a major issue on campus, it offered several recommendations on how to combat the problem—none of which were ever implemented with any real vigor. This shocking revelation reveals an inner look at how dysfunctional Harvard’s administration is and the deep-seated moral rot that clouds its judgement.”
 
Among the Committee’s findings in this investigative update are:

• In December 2023, Harvard’s AAG presented Harvard’s leadership with significant recommendations on goals and steps to address antisemitism at the University. These include: 
  • Having “zero tolerance” for classroom disruptions; 
  • Protecting shared learning environments;
  •  Holding student organizations accountable for adhering to University rules; 
  • Countering antisemitic speech; 
  • Reviewing the academic rigor of classes and programs with antisemitic content; 
  • Reviewing Harvard’s Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging’s (OEDIB) inadequacy in addressing antisemitism; and
  • Increasing intellectual diversity; and 
  • Investigating the potential influence of “dark money” from Iran, Qatar, and associates of terrorist groups on campus.
• The AAG found there to be pervasive ostracization of Israeli students at Harvard.
• Harvard’s leaders failed to consult the AAG in advance of President Gay’s congressional testimony on antisemitism.
• The AAG’s members identified numerous issues of concern for action to Harvard’s leaders. These included: 
  • The need to share more information on disciplinary outcomes publicly.
  • The importance of condemning antisemitic rhetoric as antithetical to Harvard’s values.
  • The insufficiency of Harvard’s response to reports of antisemitic incidents.
  • Concern regarding dramatic declines in Jewish enrollment at Harvard.
  • The need to examine terror financiers’ potential influence at Harvard.
  • The need to address masked protest on campus.

The Committee continues to receive documents from Harvard in its ongoing investigation and in response to its subpoena.  

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