Harvard University, long regarded as the pinnacle of American higher education, is once again under the federal spotlight. On September 19, the US Education Department intensified oversight of the Ivy League giant, placing it under “heightened cash monitoring” and warning of potential sanctions if it fails to meet demands for detailed admissions data. The move marks the latest in a series of politically charged interventions targeting elite colleges.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon announced that Harvard must now distribute financial aid from its own funds before seeking federal reimbursement, a measure designed to keep the university accountable for compliance. McMahon also cautioned that “further enforcement action” could follow if Harvard does not provide additional records proving that race no longer plays a role in admissions decisions.

The scrutiny of Harvard reflects a broader push by President Donald Trump to challenge what he describes as liberal bias in higher education. Since taking office, his administration has leveraged federal funding and regulatory power to pressure universities, including cutting research grants and forcing costly settlements in ongoing investigations.

Harvard itself saw $2.6 billion in federal research funding frozen after resisting demands to revamp governance and student disciplinary policies. A federal judge later restored the funds, condemning the administration’s actions as a “targeted, ideologically-motivated assault on this country’s premier universities.” Most recently, the Department of Health and Human Services unfroze $46 million in research funding for the university.

Admissions policies are at the center of the dispute. The Education Department is probing Harvard’s practices in light of the Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling barring the consideration of race in college admissions.

The university has been asked to provide extensive information on applicants and admitted students, amid allegations that it has not fully complied. The investigation traces its roots to a 2014 student lawsuit claiming that Harvard’s policies disadvantaged white and Asian applicants, a case that ultimately reached the Supreme Court.

Even Harvard’s formidable finances are under scrutiny. Despite a $53 billion endowment—the largest of any university — McMahon flagged concerns over the institution’s financial stability in the context of federal funding uncertainties. The heightened oversight underscores the administration’s willingness to wield influence even over institutions that are far from financially vulnerable.