Escalating dispute with Harvard, Trump administration warns of intensified financial penalties
Harvard University, one of the world's most prestigious institutions, has found itself in the midst of a political storm under the Trump administration. The Ivy League university lost $2.6 billion in federal research funding after it refused to make sweeping changes to its governance and student disciplinary policy.
This financial blow is a result of the administration's broader strategy to influence college policies and practices across the country. The Trump administration has targeted Harvard as part of its efforts to eliminate perceived liberal bias at colleges nationwide.
The administration's actions against Harvard are not without precedent. In 2023, the Supreme Court resolved a case that alleged Harvard's admissions policies unfairly disadvantaged white and Asian students. The ruling banned consideration of race in college admissions.
The Education Department is investigating Harvard's admission practices as part of a wider effort to compel universities to prove they are not using race to evaluate applicants. The department has placed Harvard University under "heightened cash monitoring," requiring the school to use its own funds for financial aid and seek reimbursement from the government.
Harvard has not met all of the Education Department's demands for information about its applicants and admitted students. Education Secretary Linda McMahon has threatened "further enforcement action" if Harvard does not turn over records to prove it no longer considers race in admissions. The administration's actions against Harvard also include the threat of sanctions if the school does not provide additional data on its admissions practices.
President Donald Trump has used the Education Department in unprecedented ways, cutting federal research grants for schools that do not comply with his administration's demands. This has led to colleges paying large cash settlements to end federal investigations under the Trump administration.
Despite the challenges, Harvard University, with its $53 billion endowment—the largest of any university—remains resilient. A federal judge has ordered the government to restore $46 million in research funding to Harvard, a small step towards recuperating the losses.
It is important to note that The Associated Press' education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations, and AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters, and funded coverage areas can be found at AP.org.
The situation at Harvard University serves as a reminder of the complex interplay between politics, education, and funding in the United States. As the administration's term draws to a close, it remains to be seen how these policies will evolve under a new leadership.
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