Harvard Faces Halt on New Grants Until It Meets White House Requirements, According to Trump Administration
Rewritten Article:
In a major shake-up, Harvard University is facing a ban on new federal grants as President Donald Trump's administration ramps up pressure. The Education Department announced this decision in a letter to Harvard's president, representing a significant escalation in Trump's ongoing struggle with the Ivy League institution.
Previously, the administration had frozen $2.2 billion in federal funds aimed at Harvard, and Trump is pushing for the stripping of the university's tax-exempt status. Harvard has staunchly objected to the administration's demands, triggering a high-profile standoff as Trump seeks to impose changes on universities he deems liberal strongholds.
Speaking on a call with reporters, an Education Department official revealed that Harvard will not receive any new federal research grants until it can demonstrate responsible management and align with federal requirements across a range of issues. It's important to note that federal financial aid supporting students' college expenses remains unaffected.
The official criticized Harvard for multiple "failures," including allowing antisemitism and racial discrimination to fester, neglecting rigorous academic standards, and stifling a variety of viewpoints on campus. To regain eligibility for new grants, Harvard will need to engage in negotiations with the federal government and prove it has satisfied the administration's requirements.
The Trump administration's demands extend beyond Harvard, targeting several prestigious universities, including Columbia University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Cornell University. The administration is reportedly targeting campus antisemitism following a wave of pro-Palestinian protests on U.S. campuses last year. It has also focused on transgender athletes in women's sports and the participation of conservatives in academic discourse.
In a letter to Harvard's president, Education Secretary Linda McMahon accused the university of enrolling foreign students who exhibit disdain for the United States.
Harvard has maintained its opposition to the government's demands. The university sued last month to halt the funding freeze, asserting that it infringes upon its First Amendment rights and violates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. Harvard President Alan Garber recently admitted that there is a "kernel of truth" to criticisms about antisemitism, freedom of speech, and ideological diversity at Harvard. However, he highlighted that the conflict with the federal government poses a threat to the university's autonomy.
The stakes go beyond Harvard, according to Garber, this is an assault on higher education itself. The Trump administration has insisted that Harvard meet a series of conditions to keep approximately $9 billion in grants and contracts. The university's endowment, the largest in the country at $53 billion, plays a crucial role in these discussions. While Harvard could rely more heavily on its endowment to make up for the federal funding loss, it faces limits in how it can allocate this money, as most of it comes with stipulations set by donors.
First Amendment rights, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, and endowment management details sourced from enrichment data.
- Harvard University has sued the federal government to halt a funding freeze, arguing that it infringes upon its First Amendment rights and violates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.
- The Trump administration is pushing for the stripping of Harvard's tax-exempt status and has threatened to ban new federal grants until Harvard demonstrates responsible management and aligns with federal requirements.
- Federal financial aid supporting students' college expenses remains unaffected, while new grants for research are being withheld due to concerns about antisemitism, racial discrimination, and lack of ideological diversity on campus.
- The Trump administration's demands extend beyond Harvard and target several prestigious universities, focusing on issues such as campus antisemitism, transgender athletes in women's sports, and the participation of conservatives in academic discourse.
- Harvard's endowment, the largest in the country at $53 billion, plays a crucial role in the discussions as the university faces limits in how it can allocate this money, as most of it comes with stipulations set by donors.
