Trump Admin To Review Harvard University Grants Over 'Antisemitism'
The Trump administration has announced a review multi-year grant commitments of nearly $9bn to Harvard University as part of an ‘antisemitism’ investigation. Reportedly, the review will be done by the Department of Education, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the US General Services Administration to ‘protect students’ on college campuses.
As per the administration, the review process includes more than $255.6m in current contracts and $8.7bn in grants spread over multiple years. It aims to ensure that the univesity is in compliance with federal regulations including civil rights responsibilities, the official statement mentioned.
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The review will look at individual contracts to determine whether stop-work orders should be issued. The university is expected to provide a list of federal contracts to the White House, not included in the initial review.
Linda McMahon, Secretary of Education, said, “Harvard has served as a Symbol of the American dream for generations – the pinnacle aspiration for students all over the world to work hard and earn admission to the storied institution”.
However, Harvard’s failure to protect students on campus from anti-Semitic discrimination and promote divisive ideologies over free inquiry has jeopardised its reputation, McMahon said.
Notably, the Trump administration has been cracking down on students and universities over pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
Trump administration has reportedly pulled out over $400m in federal funding to Columbia University, in exchange for Columbia changing its disciplinary policies and putting the Middle Eastern, African, and South Asian studies programmes under administrative control.
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Moreover, a federal task force has notified 10 universities to conduct ‘a comprehensive review’ of their federal contracts and grants as part of its ongoing investigations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.
The Federal Task Force to Combat Antisemitism was set up in February following Trump’s executive order.
