Anna Hartz
Trump Admin Cuts Off Billions to Harvard After Standoff
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The atmosphere between universities and the U.S. government are tense. But now, things have escalated further.
One of the most well-known universities in the world is at the center of a growing political battle.
At stake is not just money—but the future of academic freedom in the United States.
This week, the Trump administration announced it would freeze over $2 billion in federal funds that were meant for Harvard University, according to Ziare.
The move came after Harvard pushed back on a series of demands sent by the White House.
The Department of Education said Harvard’s response showed what it called an “entitlement mentality.”
The demands were sent last week. They focused on how Harvard should deal with anti-Semitism on campus.
They also included changes to hiring, admissions, and how the university is governed.
On Monday, Harvard’s president, Alan Garber, said no. In a letter to the university, he explained that Harvard had received an “expanded” list of demands just days before.
Along with that list came a warning. If Harvard didn’t agree, it could lose its funding.
Garber said the university had spoken to its lawyers and made a decision. It would not accept the deal.
He said Harvard will not give up its independence or its rights under the Constitution.
He also made it clear that Harvard takes anti-Semitism seriously. But he said most of the government’s demands had nothing to do with that issue.
Instead, they were an attempt to control how Harvard runs its campus and its classrooms.
After Harvard made its decision public, the Department of Education responded quickly.
It announced that $2.2 billion in grants and $60 million in contracts would be frozen.
The department said Jewish students have faced harassment. It said universities must commit to real change if they want to keep receiving public money.
In a letter sent earlier, the government accused Harvard of failing to meet basic standards.
It listed ten areas where the university must improve if it wants funding to return