One Cleared, One Sued: DOJ Ends Illinois Race-Based Loan Review as Harvard Faces Billions at Risk Over Antisemitic Harassment

Illinois Drops Race-Based Loan Criteria, DOJ Ends Civil Rights Review

The U.S. Department of Justice has closed a compliance review of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission after the state removed race-based eligibility criteria from a loan repayment program, federal officials said.

The review, conducted under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, examined a provision in the Community Behavioral Health Care Professional Loan Repayment Program that required at least 30% of funds be set aside for applicants identified as African American or Black, Hispanic or Latinx, Asian, or Native American.

Justice Department officials said the provision raised concerns about potential violations of federal law, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color or national origin by recipients of federal financial assistance.

After being notified of the review, Illinois eliminated the criteria from the program as well as from other initiatives administered by the commission, according to the department. The changes brought the programs into compliance with federal requirements, allowing the review to be closed.

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division said agencies receiving federal funds must follow anti-discrimination laws when determining how benefits are distributed.

The Illinois Student Assistance Commission, established in 1957, administers a range of state financial aid programs, including grants, scholarships and loan repayment initiatives aimed at expanding access to higher education. Its largest program, the Monetary Award Program, provides need-based grants to Illinois students attending public and private colleges.

In addition to financial aid distribution, the agency conducts outreach and advising efforts for students and families, including college planning support, financial aid guidance and training programs for educators. It also manages specialized initiatives such as first-generation student support programs and federal grant partnerships designed to increase college access and completion rates.

State officials said the agency will continue administering its programs following the changes, which affect eligibility criteria but not the overall structure of its financial aid offerings.

DOJ Sues Harvard: ‘Deliberate Indifference’ to Antisemitic Harassment Puts Billions in Federal Funding at Risk

The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against Harvard University, alleging the school failed to address antisemitic harassment of Jewish and Israeli students in violation of federal civil rights law.

The complaint, filed in federal court in Massachusetts, alleges that the university allowed a hostile environment to develop on campus following the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas. Federal officials claim students, faculty and others engaged in conduct that included harassment and intimidation targeting individuals perceived to have ties to Israel.

According to the lawsuit, the university did not take sufficient steps to prevent or respond to the incidents and selectively enforced campus policies, allowing the behavior to continue. The complaint also cites findings from a university task force that reported instances of exclusion of Israeli or pro-Israel students from social and extracurricular activities.

The Justice Department alleges the university’s response amounted to deliberate indifference under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color or national origin in programs that receive federal funding.

Attorney General Pamela Bondi said the case reflects broader concerns about antisemitism on college campuses since the 2023 attacks. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said institutions receiving federal funds have an obligation to protect students’ civil rights.

“Since October 7th, 2023, too many of our educational institutions have allowed anti-Semitism to flourish on campus – Harvard included,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Today’s litigation underscores the Trump Administration’s commitment to demanding better from our nation’s schools and putting an end to discriminatory behavior that harms students.”

The lawsuit seeks to require Harvard to comply with federal law and could affect federal funding tied to the university. According to the complaint, the institution receives billions of dollars in federal grants, including funding from the Department of Health and Human Services.

“Every student deserves to learn without fear of harassment or exclusion,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. “When institutions take taxpayer dollars, they accept a duty to protect civil rights. We hold Harvard accountable on the principle that antisemitism has no place in any program funded by the American people.”

“This Department of Justice will not tolerate the harassment, assault, or intimidation of Jewish and Israeli students, and neither should Harvard,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This Justice Department has no tolerance for such brazen violations of federal law.”

“When OCR notified Harvard of the Title VI violation, we recognized Harvard’s public commitment to address antisemitism, but found its proposed reforms did not meet Title VI requirements,” said Paula M. Stannard, Director of the Department of Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights (OCR). “OCR required concrete action, not assurances. We commend the U.S. Department of Justice for pursuing this case.”

You can view the complaint here.