WASHINGTON (TNND) — The ongoing conflict between Harvard University and the White House has intensified, with the administration now barring the Ivy League institution from receiving future federal research grants.

This decision follows the arrest of more than two dozen anti-Israel demonstrators at the University of Washington on Monday, who occupied an engineering building, lit dumpster fires, and blocked streets and exits.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon addressed the Harvard issue: "It's a civil rights issue on campus. Antisemitism. And they've said we're trying to dictate to them how they should run their university. Which is clearly not the case."

On Monday, McMahon sent a letter to Harvard President Alan Garber, informing him that Harvard is no longer eligible for federal government grants. Last month, the administration froze $2.2 billion in federal research grants to Harvard, prompting the university to sue for the funds' release.

The core of the dispute is the rise of antisemitism on campus following Hamas's October 7th attack on Israel, an issue Harvard acknowledges.

"At Harvard, we have a real problem with antisemitism. We take it very seriously we don’t really see the relationship to research funding at Harvard They are two different issues," said Garber.

The White House contends that Harvard is not adequately addressing the problem to protect Jewish students and provided a list of demands that Harvard refused, citing academic freedom concerns.

Representative Lisa McClain, R-Mich., expressed her dismay, saying, "Isn’t it sad that we actually have to be here?"

House Republicans held a press conference on Tuesday to demonstrate their commitment to addressing the issue.

McClain added, "College presidents are failing and I would argue they are failing miserably I look forward to asking those presidents what they’re doing and if they’re not doing anything, I have a question: why should they receive federal funding?"

The House Committee on Education and the Workforce is set to hold a hearing on Wednesday to address the spread of rising antisemitism, with a particular focus on Ivy League schools.