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From the Associated Press: The federal government says it’s freezing more than $2.2 billion in grants and $60 million in contracts to Harvard University, after the institution said it would defy the Trump administration’s demands to limit activism on campus.
The hold on Harvard’s funding marks the seventh time President Donald Trump’s administration has taken the step at one of the nation’s most elite colleges, in an attempt to force compliance with Trump’s political agenda. Six of the seven schools are in the Ivy League.
It sets the stage for a showdown between the federal government and America’s oldest and wealthiest university. With an endowment of more than $50 billion, Harvard is perhaps the best positioned university to push back on the administration’s pressure campaign.
In a letter to Harvard Friday, Trump’s administration had called for broad government and leadership reforms at the university, as well as changes to its admissions policies. It also demanded the university audit views of diversity on campus, and stop recognizing some student clubs.
Some of the requirements the Trump administration had listed in the letter to Harvard included:
- Merit-Based Hiring reform
- Merit-Based Admissions reform
- International Admissions reform
- Viewpoint Diversity in Admissions and Hiring
- Reforming programs with egregious records of antisemitism or other bias
- Discontinuation of DEI
- Student Discipline reform and accountability
- Whistleblower reporting and protections
- Transparency and monitoring
Read the Trump Administration’s Letter to Harvard – The New York Times https://t.co/39C30Mz5SZ
— Murtaza Solangi (@murtazasolangi) April 15, 2025
Defiantly, the Harvard University declared, “The university will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights. Neither Harvard nor any other private university can allow itself to be taken over by the federal government.”
The university will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights. Neither Harvard nor any other private university can allow itself to be taken over by the federal government. https://t.co/5k5t9RYYC2
— Harvard University (@Harvard) April 14, 2025
Tuesday morning, President Trump suggested in a Truth Social post, “Perhaps Harvard should lose its Tax Exempt Status and be Taxed as a Political Entity if it keeps pushing political, ideological, and terrorist inspired/supporting “Sickness?” Remember, Tax Exempt Status is totally contingent on acting in the PUBLIC INTEREST!”
Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) wrote, “President @realDonaldTrump is absolutely right—Harvard’s tax-exempt status should be on the table. When a university abandons its duty to foster truth and safety, embracing divisive ideologies over public good, it forfeits that privilege. Time to hold them accountable!”
President @realDonaldTrump is absolutely right—Harvard’s tax-exempt status should be on the table. When a university abandons its duty to foster truth and safety, embracing divisive ideologies over public good, it forfeits that privilege. Time to hold them accountable! pic.twitter.com/p9Dgv9x7b0
— Elise Stefanik (@EliseStefanik) April 15, 2025
Harvard University President Alan Garber said in a statement, “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.”
“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.” – President Alan Garber https://t.co/6cQQpcJVTd
— Harvard University (@Harvard) April 14, 2025
Barack Obama then added, “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
Socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) cheered for Harvard, writing, “Congratulations to Harvard for refusing to relinquish its constitutional rights to Trump’s authoritarianism. Other universities should follow their lead. And instead of doing pro bono work for Trump, cowardly law firms should be defending those who believe in the rule of law.”
Congratulations to Harvard for refusing to relinquish its constitutional rights to Trump’s authoritarianism.
Other universities should follow their lead.
And instead of doing pro bono work for Trump, cowardly law firms should be defending those who believe in the rule of law.
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) April 14, 2025
Hillsdale College, a Christian college in Michigan, slapped back at Harvard with a challenge: “There is another way: Refuse taxpayer money.”
There is another way:
Refuse taxpayer money. https://t.co/qAtohdDE5C
— Hillsdale College (@Hillsdale) April 14, 2025
Scenes from a recent Harvard graduation. Shocking that a university once seen as the gold standard, and founded as a divinity school, has fallen into the hands of those who hate America, hate Jews, and glorify terrorism.
Their failure to denounce hatred will continue to cost… pic.twitter.com/p9uvOF8pDY
— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) April 15, 2025
Harvard hosted racially segregated graduation ceremonies for every group except whites and Jews, in violation of the Civil Rights Act. The president has every right to withhold funding until Harvard stops practicing racial discrimination and desegregates its programs. pic.twitter.com/6Aq6uMbzDk
— Christopher F. Rufo ⚔️ (@realchrisrufo) April 15, 2025
Trump administration freezes $2.2 billion in grants to Harvard over campus activism – Breitbart https://t.co/Knidkle9xi via @BreitbartNews
— Joel Pollak (@joelpollak) April 15, 2025
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