The U.S. Department of Education opened new investigations into Harvard while federal scrutiny also returned to Cornell after a recent settlement and fine. The Education Department’s inquiries target admissions and Title VI/antisemitism complaints at Harvard, and follow earlier enforcement actions that left Cornell under federal oversight. University leaders have called some of the inquiries retaliatory; federal officials say they are enforcing civil‑rights and funding rules. The developments mark an escalation in Washington’s oversight of elite institutions: the Education Department is using compliance reviews and civil‑rights mechanisms rather than only negotiating with campus leaders. Harvard and Cornell are cooperating with investigators but have warned that prolonged probes can chill campus programs, hiring and philanthropy. For higher education administrators, renewed federal enforcement raises operational questions about document preservation, public messaging, and board oversight. Institutional counsels and provosts are coordinating responses as investigators press for admissions and discrimination records. Expect more administrative and legal costs as both universities navigate overlapping federal reviews.