The Steady Drip: McMahon Warns Harvard: Obey Law on DEI (Connecting the Dots: Harvard University, The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Columbia University & The Carnegie/Soros Network)

McMahon Warns Harvard: Obey Law on DEI (Connecting the Dots: Harvard University, The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Columbia University & The Carnegie/Soros Network)

Newsmax.com

By Nicole Weatherholtz | Wednesday, 08 July 2026 09:48 AM EDT

https://www.newsmax.com/us/linda-mcmahon-harvard-dei/2026/07/08/id/1262165/

Education Secretary Linda McMahon said the Trump administration is prepared to step up its crackdown on Harvard if the Ivy League university continues operating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs that violate federal law.

Appearing on the latest episode of the Pod Force One podcast, McMahon said Harvard remains on notice as the administration continues its push to root out what it considers unlawful discrimination in higher education.

"Having always the hammer, if you will, of investigation, of losing federal funding for research and programs, as well as having lawsuits potentially brought by the Department of Justice are certainly things that they bear in mind as well," she said.

Since returning to the White House, President Donald Trump has made eliminating DEI programs at colleges and universities a key priority.

His administration has launched investigations into Harvard over alleged antisemitism and race-based admissions practices, while the Justice Department has sued the university for allegedly withholding admissions data.

The White House also sought to revoke $2.2 billion in federal grants to Harvard after determining the university was not complying with federal civil rights laws. A federal judge later ordered the funding restored, and the Trump administration has appealed the ruling.

McMahon said the administration has no desire to deprive universities of critical research funding but made clear that compliance with federal law is nonnegotiable.

"It is not the goal or the desire of the federal government to take away that funding, because our research universities provide an unbelievable amount of very effective and good research and invention for the country," she said.

"We want to make sure that that research can continue, but they just need to know that they're going to have to operate within the confines of the law to do that," McMahon added.

She also suggested some universities are attempting to preserve DEI initiatives by simply changing their names.

"It is my sincere hope that many of them have seen the error in doing that," McMahon said. "What we have seen as a result of a lot of the action that we have taken is there have been civics institutes set up on many of the campuses where civics is taught, history of our country is taught, and less of the ideology."

Still, McMahon said she remains skeptical.

"However, if I'm looking at it objectively, I would bet that there are many who have just changed the name and maybe given it enough window dressing that it's passed muster for the time being," she said.

Conservative legal groups have alleged Harvard continues operating taxpayer-funded DEI programs despite the administration's directives.

Trump administration officials have pointed to schools including Columbia University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as examples of universities that have rolled back DEI initiatives or related policies after facing federal pressure.

McMahon, who led WWE before serving in Trump's first administration, also joked about her transition from professional wrestling to Washington.

"I've actually not been turned upside down and made to look as though I landed on my head yet, but there is a lot of to-ing and fro-ing, that is for sure," she said.

Connecting the Dots:

Corporation of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is the governing body for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Alan G. Spoon is a member of the Corporation of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and was a trustee at the Committee for Economic Development.

Thomas P. Gerrity was a member of the Corporation of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and is a trustee at the Committee for Economic Development and

Shirley Ann Jackson is a life member of the Corporation of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and was a trustee at the Committee for Economic Development.

Letitia James is the chair for the Committee on Economic Development and the Attorney General of New York.

George E. Rupp was a trustee at the Committee for Economic Development and the president of Columbia University.

Lee C. Bollinger is a trustee at the Committee for Economic Development and the president of Columbia University.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Committee for Economic Development and the Brookings Institution (think tank).

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Ted Lieu was honored with the Carnegie Corporation of New York's Great Immigrants Award, has represented California's 36th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives since 2023 and is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Astrid S. Tuminez was a program officer at the Carnegie Corporation of New York and is the 7th President of the Utah Valley University (Charlie Kirk Shooting).

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Breene M. Kerr was an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a life member emeritus for the Corporation of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Laura D'Andrea Tyson was a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a member of the Corporation of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Louis W. Cabot is an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and was a life member emeritus for the Corporation of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Shirley Ann Jackson is a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a life member of the Corporation of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Joan E. Spero was an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a trustee at Columbia University.

C. Douglas Dillon was the chairman for the Brookings Institution (think tank) and an overseer at Harvard University.

Henry Louis Gates Jr. is a professor at Harvard University and an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Paul E. Peterson is a professor at Harvard University and was a director of governmental studies at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Lawrence H. Summers was a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and is a professor; former president of Harvard University.

Ann M. Fudge was an overseer at Harvard University and is a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

John C. Whitehead was the chairman for Harvard University and is an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Harold H. Koh was an overseer for Harvard University, the State Department legal adviser for the Barack Obama administration and a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Herbert M. Kaplan is a board of fellow’s member for Harvard Medical School and an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Cass R. Sunstein is a professor at Harvard Medical School and a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Lynn Bendheim Thoman is a board of fellow’s member for Harvard Medical School and a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Howard E. Cox Jr. is a board of fellow’s member for Harvard Medical School and a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Kenneth M. Duberstein is a senior advisory committee member for the Harvard University Institute of Politics and a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Harold H. Koh was an overseer at Harvard University, a developments editor for the Harvard Law Review, the State Department legal adviser for the Barack Obama administration and a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank) and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society and is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).

Robert Legvold was a trustee at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) and is a professor emeritus at Columbia University.

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) and the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank), the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Joan E. Spero was an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a trustee at Columbia University.

Michael M. Crow was an executive vice provost for Columbia University and is a director at the New America Foundation.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the New America Foundation and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Jonathan Soros is a director at the New America Foundation, George Soros’s son and a senior fellow at the Roosevelt Institute.

George Soros is Jonathan Soros’s father and was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the New America Foundation and the Roosevelt Institute.

Alan Brinkley is a governor at the Roosevelt Institute and a professor at Columbia University.

Ted Van Dyk is a governor at the Roosevelt Institute and was a VP for Columbia University.

Anna Eleanor Roosevelt was the chair for the Roosevelt Institute and an advisory board member for the Wheelchair Foundation.

Mikhail Gorbachev was an advisory board member for the Wheelchair Foundation, the president of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), a general secretary for the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and an honorary board member for Green Cross International.

Ted Turner was an honorary board member for Green Cross International, the founder of CNN and a co-chairman for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank).

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank), the Aspen Institute (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Walter Isaacson is the president & CEO for the Aspen Institute (think tank) and was the chairman & CEO for CNN.

Stephen Friedman is a trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank) and was a chairman for Columbia University.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Aspen Institute (think tank) and Human Rights First.

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society, William D. Zabel was his divorce lawyer and is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for Human Rights First.

William D. Zabel is the chair for Human Rights First and was George Soros’s divorce lawyer.

Louis Henkin was a director at the Human Rights First and a professor at Columbia University.

James D. Zirin was a director at the Human Rights First and is a senior counsel at Sidley Austin LLP.

Mark A. Angelson was a director at Human Rights First and a partner at Sidley Austin LLP.

Barack Obama was an intern at Sidley Austin LLP.

Michelle Obama was a lawyer at Sidley Austin LLP.

R. Eden Martin was counsel at Sidley Austin LLP and is the president of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Newton N. Minow was a senior counsel at Sidley Austin LLP, a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago and an honorary trustee at the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Cameron F. Kerry is a fellow at the Brookings Institution (think tank), John F. Kerry’s brother and a senior counsel at Sidley Austin LLP.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank) and the Natural Resources Defense Council.

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society and is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Frederica P. Perera is a trustee at the Natural Resources Defense Council and a professor at Columbia University.

Robert Redford was a trustee at the Natural Resources Defense Council and an honorary board member for Green Cross International.

Ted Turner was an honorary board member for Green Cross International, the founder of CNN and a co-chairman for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank).

Mikhail Gorbachev was an honorary board member for Green Cross International, the president of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), a general secretary for the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and an advisory board member for the Wheelchair Foundation.

Anna Eleanor Roosevelt was an advisory board member for the Wheelchair Foundation and the chair for the Roosevelt Institute.

Alan Brinkley is a governor at the Roosevelt Institute and a professor at Columbia University.

Ted Van Dyk is a governor at the Roosevelt Institute and was a VP for Columbia University.

Jonathan Soros is a senior fellow at the Roosevelt Institute, George Soros’s son and a director at the New America Foundation.

George Soros is Jonathan Soros’s father and was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Roosevelt Institute and the New America Foundation.

Michael M. Crow is a director at the New America Foundation and was an executive vice provost for Columbia University.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the New America Foundation, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank), the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Robert Legvold was a trustee at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) and is a professor emeritus at Columbia University.

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the founder of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) was a funder for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank).

Michael Douglas is a director at the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank) and a friend of George Soros.

Ted Turner was a co-chairman for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank), an honorary board member for Green Cross International and the founder of CNN.

Mikhail Gorbachev was the founder for the Green Cross International.

Robert Redford was an honorary board member for Green Cross International and a trustee at the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Global Green USA is the US affiliate for Green Cross International.

Leonardo DiCaprio is a board member for Global Green USA and a trustee at the Natural Resources Defense Council.

J. Robert Kerrey is a council of advisor’s member for Global Green USA and was a trustee at the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Frederica P. Perera is a trustee at the Natural Resources Defense Council and a professor at Columbia University.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Natural Resources Defense Council.

George Soros is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations and was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Aspen Institute (think tank).

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Aspen Institute (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Walter Isaacson is the president & CEO for the Aspen Institute (think tank) and was the chairman & CEO for CNN.

Stephen Friedman is a trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank) and was a chairman for Columbia University.

James S. Crown is the vice chairman for the Aspen Institute (think tank) and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Lester Crown was a lifetime trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank) and is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

R. Eden Martin is the president of the Commercial Club of Chicago and was counsel at Sidley Austin LLP.

Barack Obama was an intern at Sidley Austin LLP.

Michelle Obama was a lawyer at Sidley Austin LLP.

Newton N. Minow was a senior counsel at Sidley Austin LLP, a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago and an honorary trustee at the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Cameron F. Kerry is a fellow at the Brookings Institution (think tank), John F. Kerry’s brother and a senior counsel at Sidley Austin LLP.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank) and Human Rights First.

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society, William D. Zabel was his divorce lawyer and is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for Human Rights First.

William D. Zabel is the chair for Human Rights First and was George Soros’s divorce lawyer.

James D. Zirin was a director at the Human Rights First and is a senior counsel at Sidley Austin LLP.

Mark A. Angelson was a director at Human Rights First and a partner at Sidley Austin LLP.

Louis Henkin was a director at the Human Rights First and a professor at Columbia University.

George E. Rupp was the president of Columbia University and is an overseer; former president & CEO for the International Rescue Committee.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the International Rescue Committee.

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.
International Rescue Committee is a partner with the ONE Campaign.

Michelle Obama was an advocate for the ONE Campaign and a lawyer at Sidley Austin LLP.

Howard G. Buffett is a director at the ONE Campaign and Warren E. Buffett’s son.

Susan A. Buffett is a director at the ONE Campaign and Warren E. Buffett’s daughter.

Warren E. Buffett is Howard G. Buffett & Susan A. Buffett’s father and an adviser at the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank).

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) was a funder for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank).

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).

George Soros is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations and was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) and the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank), the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank), the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Morton H. Halperin is a senior adviser for the Soros Open Society Foundations, served with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank), he taught at Harvard University and Columbia University, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a director at the ONE Campaign.

Lawrence H. Summers is a director at the ONE Campaign and was a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Sheryl K. Sandberg is a director at the ONE Campaign and was a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is a director at the ONE Campaign and was a visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Helene D. Gayle is a director at the ONE Campaign and a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).
C. Douglas Dillon was the chairman for the Brookings Institution (think tank) and an overseer at Harvard University.