Sen. Murphy accuses Trump administration of micromanaging Harvard with conflicting diversity mandates.

Senate Grills Education Secretary Over Federal Pressure on Harvard

President Donald Trump’s policy on campus diversity faced sharp criticism during a Senate hearing Tuesday, as Education Secretary Linda McMahon defended the administration’s efforts to reform Harvard University’s hiring and inclusion practices. The contentious exchange occurred during a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee session in Washington.

Senator Chris Murphy, D-Conn., took aim at the administration’s orders to Harvard, questioning the logic and legality of demanding an end to traditional diversity programs while promoting “viewpoint diversity.”

“You told [Harvard] that they had to end all of their diversity programs, but then that they had to institute viewpoint diversity,” Murphy said. “That doesn't make sense.”

McMahon responded by clarifying the administration’s stance, stating that their focus was specifically on eliminating DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives that she claimed divided groups rather than fostering inclusion. “The diversity programs we've asked and demanded to be eliminated were the DEI, where those programs were actually pitting one group against another,” she said.

Murphy continued to challenge the administration’s position, asking, “Isn't viewpoint diversity a diversity program?” To which McMahon replied, “Viewpoint diversity is an exchange of ideas. Now here, because Harvard only has 3%, by its own numbers, conservative faculty. Do you think they are allowing enough viewpoint diversity?”

The discussion then turned to the legal foundation for the administration’s involvement. Murphy pressed McMahon on what gave the Department of Education the authority to intervene in university policy. After several exchanges, McMahon cited Title VI of the Civil Rights Act as the basis for the administration’s actions, including its decision to temporarily cut funding to Harvard and Columbia University.

Murphy concluded his questioning by rejecting the administration’s interpretation of Title VI. “I don't understand any conception of civil rights law to give you the authorization to micromanage viewpoint diversity on campus,” he said. “That's not authorized under the civil rights title provided to you by the United States Congress.”

The Trump administration has threatened to revoke all federal funding to Harvard—amounting to approximately $100 million in government contracts—unless the university complies with the reforms. Harvard has so far resisted these directives, maintaining its existing approach to diversity and inclusion.

The hearing underscores growing tensions between federal oversight and institutional autonomy in higher education, as the Trump administration continues to target what it considers ideological imbalance on university campuses. With funding at stake, the standoff between Harvard and the federal government appears far from over.