The White House views a payment of $500 million by Harvard University as a floor in negotiations for a settlement, and the cost of a deal could climb far higher if the school doesn't submit to government oversight provisions.

President Donald Trump's administration has sent a letter to Harvard University saying it has referred the university to the U.S. Justice Department to address allegations of "Harvard's antisemitic discrimination.

The Trump administration said Harvard University is still refusing to obey federal civil rights law, increasing pressure over the school’s alleged failure to address antisemitic harassment on campus since Israel’s response to the 2023 attack by Hamas prompted pro-Palestine student protests.