Trump Administration Cut Billions In Harvard Funds For Defying Demands (X image @tulsipotus)

Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Trump administration is freezing nearly $2.3 billion in federal funds to Harvard University. The announcement came as the Ivy League school has decided to fight against the White House’s demands that it crack down on antisemitism and alleged civil rights violations, including shutting down diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

“Harvard’s statement today reinforces the troubling entitlement mindset that is endemic in our nation’s most prestigious universities and colleges – that federal investment does not come with the responsibility to uphold civil rights laws,” said a member of a department taskforce on combating antisemitism in a statement, as quoted by media. In the statement, it said that it was freezing $2.2 billion in grants and $60 million in multi-year contract value to Harvard.

In a letter to Harvard, Trump officials called for broad government and leadership reforms, a requirement that was called for “merit-based” admissions and hiring policies as well as conduct an audit of the study body, faculty and leadership on their views about diversity. The administration demand that the University cooperate with federal immigration authorities.

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The demands, which are an update from the earlier letter, also included a call for a ban on face masks. Reportedly, this appeared to target pro-Palestinian protesters; close its diversity, equity and inclusion programs, which it says teach students and staff “to make snap judgments about each other based on crude race and identity stereotypes”; and pressured the university to stop recognizing or funding, “any student group or club that endorses or promotes criminal activity, illegal violence, or illegal harassment”.

In a letter, Harvard president, Alan Garber, said that the university would not comply with the Trump administration’s demands to dismantle its diversity programming and to limit student protests in exchange for its federal funding.

“No government – regardless of which party is in power – should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue”, he wrote. He also added that Harvard had taken extensive reforms to address antisemitism.

Garber accused Trump administration’s move as political ploy.

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“It makes clear that the intention is not to work with us to address antisemitism in a cooperative and constructive manner…Although some of the demands outlined by the government are aimed at combating antisemitism, the majority represent direct governmental regulation of the ‘intellectual conditions’ at Harvard,” read the letter.

Former US President Barack Obama came forward voicing support for the University. Taking to X, he wrote, “Harvard has set an example for other higher-ed institutions – rejecting an unlawful and ham-handed attempt to stifle academic freedom, while taking concrete steps to make sure all students at Harvard can benefit from an environment of intellectual inquiry, rigorous debate and mutual respect. Let’s hope other institutions follow suit.”

Harvard has set an example for other higher-ed institutions – rejecting an unlawful and ham-handed attempt to stifle academic freedom, while taking concrete steps to make sure all students at Harvard can benefit from an environment of intellectual inquiry, rigorous debate and… https://t.co/gAu9UUqgjF

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) April 15, 2025

A group of alumni wrote to university leaders after Trump administration’s demand. The letter called for “legally contest and refuse to comply with unlawful demands that threaten academic freedom and university self-governance”.

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“Harvard stood up today for the integrity, values, and freedoms that serve as the foundation of higher education…Harvard reminded the world that learning, innovation and transformative growth will not yield to bullying and authoritarian whims”, said Anurima Bhargava, one of the alumni behind the letter.

The move also sparked protest from the members of the Harvard community and from residents of Cambridge.

American Association of University Professors filed a lawsuit from challenging the cuts. In their lawsuit, plaintiffs argue that the Trump administration has failed to follow steps required under Title VI before it starts cutting funds, and giving notice of the cuts to both the university and Congress.

“These sweeping yet indeterminate demands are not remedies targeting the causes of any determination of noncompliance with federal law. Instead, they overtly seek to impose on Harvard University political views and policy preferences advanced by the Trump administration and commit the university to punishing disfavored speech,” plaintiffs wrote, quoted The Guardian.