Trump administration and Harvard University are closing in on a settlement, with a potential $500 million payout from the educational institution.
Harvard University is reportedly in negotiations with the Trump administration over a potential settlement worth up to $500 million. The proposed settlement aims to resolve federal investigations into antisemitism and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies on campus.
If agreed upon, the settlement would be more than double the $221 million settlement Columbia University reached under similar circumstances. However, Harvard has expressed reluctance to pay the government directly or allow outside monitors to oversee the settlement.
The funds, if paid, would be allocated towards research and workforce and vocational programs, rather than going directly into government coffers. This suggests the settlement terms have been negotiated to support areas aligned with academic or societal development.
The proposed settlement forms part of a broader Trump administration initiative to secure over $1.2 billion in settlements from elite institutions accused of leftist ideological bias. Columbia University and Brown University have already agreed to pay $200 million and $50 million respectively, as part of agreements restoring access to federal funding.
The dispute between Harvard and the Trump administration has tested the boundaries of the government's authority over American universities. The investigation initially focused on campus antisemitism but escalated into an all-out feud. More than a dozen Democrats in Congress who attended Harvard have cautioned against a settlement, warning it may warrant "rigorous Congressional oversight and inquiry."
Harvard University, the richest U.S. university with an endowment valued at $53 billion, has responded with a pair of lawsuits alleging illegal retaliation by the administration. The Republican president is pushing to reform prestigious universities that he considers bastions of liberal ideology. Those opposed to the settlement argue that capitulating to political demands would set a dangerous precedent across all of higher education.
Details have not been finalized on where Harvard's potential payment would go. If the settlement is agreed upon, it could end a months-long battle between Harvard and the Trump administration and potentially end investigations.
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