In a dramatic escalation of tensions between the White House and elite academic institutions, President Trump administration has announced the freezing of over $2.2 billion in federal funding to Harvard University. This decision came shortly after Harvard refused to comply with a list of demands sent by the White House.
The list of demands sent last week called for sweeping changes to Harvard’s governance including a revamp of its admissions process, hiring policies and the elimination of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs.
Additionally the White House asked Harvard to report students who express views considered hostile to American values. They also asked to accept oversight from a government approved auditor for programs allegedly linked to antisemitic harassment.
On Monday, Harvard publicly rejected the demands. In a letter to the university community, President Alan Garber stated that Harvard would not surrender its institutional independence or compromise its constitutional rights. He described the list as an overreach that could set a dangerous precedent by allowing federal regulation of the university intellectual environment.
Just hours after this statement, the U.S. Department of Education announced that it would immediately halt $2.2 billion in grants and $60 million in federal contracts.
The department criticized Harvard stance and called it part of a troubling trend among elite universities. A White House statement further justified the freeze by alleging that Harvard has failed to uphold the civil and intellectual conditions necessary for receiving taxpayer funding.This is not the first time the Trump administration has clashed with a prestigious university over similar issues. In a recent case, Columbia University had $400 million in funding revoked but later agreed to meet several federal demands. The incident is part of a larger effort by the Trump administration to pressure universities into making ideological and structural changes particularly in response to campus protests about the Israel Gaza conflict and concerns over rising antisemitism.
