Federal Funds Slated for Reduction: Trump Administration Earmarks $100 Million Less in Contracts for Harvard University
The Trump administration has requested federal agencies to terminate approximately $100 million worth of contracts with Harvard University, increasing the President's contentious relationship with the nation's oldest and wealthiest institution of higher learning.
Simultaneously, President Trump's ongoing battle against the legal profession encountered another hurdle on Tuesday when a federal judge invalidated an executive order aiming to sanction one of the nation's most esteemed law firms, WilmerHale. This ruling is the third time in a single month that a Washington-based federal judge has declared Trump's series of law firm executive orders to be unconstitutional and permanently barred their enforcement.
The State Department has temporarily ceased scheduling new visa interviews for foreign students planning to study in the United States while it expands the scrutiny of their social media activity. This decision comes as the Trump administration's continued crackdown on international students. The administration's intentions behind this suspension do not affect students who had already scheduled their visa interviews.
In a related development, the Trump administration sought to cut approximately $100 million in federal contracts with Harvard University, intensifying the president's conflict with the Ivy League institution. The government had previously frozen over $2.6 billion in federal research grants for Harvard, following the university's resistance to the administration's demands for changes in various policies.
A letter from the General Services Administration, which governs contracting and real estate for the federal government, instructed agencies to review their contracts with Harvard and seek alternative suppliers. The New York Times reported on the contents of the letter.
The Trump administration's rationale for terminating these contracts is to exert pressure on Harvard University to modify its admissions and campus policies, particularly concerning race and diversity, which the administration disputes [1][3]. This action is part of a broader campaign against Harvard that includes freezing research grants and other contracts, as well as demands for changes in governance, merit-based hiring, the closure of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, and the allowance of audits for "viewpoint diversity" [1][2]. Harvard's president views these actions as unlawful targeting and part of a larger cultural battle against perceived undesirable developments on campuses.
[1] Source: The New York Times[2] Source: Harvard Crimson[3] Source: The Wall Street Journal
- The Trump administration's decision to terminate approximately $100 million in federal contracts with Harvard University is part of a broader media campaign, as reported by The New York Times.
- This move by the Trump administration is not only aimed at Harvard University, but also includes demands for changes in various policies and governance, as detailed in an article by The Wall Street Journal.
- In addition to the legal battle against WilmerHale and the visa suspension for foreign students, the ongoing conflict between the Trump administration and Harvard University is being debated in political circles, being classified as a significant news item in general-news media.
- The government's allegation that Harvard University's admissions and campus policies, particularly issues concerning race and diversity, are being disputed in court, as the administration seeks to enforce these changes through the cancellation of contracts, perThe Wall Street Journal.
