The U.S. Department of Education told Harvard that it will freeze billions of dollars in future grants
The U.S. Department of Education told Harvard on Monday that it would freeze billions of dollars in future research grants and other aid until the country’s oldest and wealthiest universities acknowledge many of the Trump administration’s demands on the Trump administration, a senior department official said.
The move represents the Trump administration's willingness to use the power of the federal wallet to force the latest Salvo from law firms to universities to make comprehensive policy changes that would otherwise lose billions of dollars in federal grants and contracts.
In a letter to Harvard, U.S. Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon said the university must address concerns about anti-Semitism on campus, a policy that takes into account complaints from students’ race and government, which abandons its pursuit of “academic excellence” while hiring relatively few conservative teachers.
“This letter is intended to inform you that Harvard should no longer seek grants from the federal government because no grants will be made available,” McMahon wrote.
Harvard said the McMahon letters would double the requirement to impose “unprecedented and improper control” on universities as required and put forward new threats to “illegal” and “illegal” withholding funds. “Harvard will also continue to over-defend illegal governments aimed at stifling research and innovation, which makes Americans safer and safer,” a university spokesperson said.
The freeze of future funds represents a slightly changed strategy for the Trump administration, whose efforts to freeze existing funds have sparked legal brows efforts.
Harvard's accusations against anti-Semitism on campus
Trump has filed anti-Semitism accusations against Harvard University during the pro-Palestinian protests. The military attack on Gaza by our ally Israel sparked protests after Palestinian Hamas militants attacked Israel in October 2023.
Trump accused pro-Palestinian protesters of being anti-Semitism, sympathy for Hamas. Protesters, including some Jewish groups, say the government has mistakenly conflated their criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza with anti-Semitism and its advocacy for Palestinian rights in support of extremism.
In recent weeks, the government has begun formal reviews of nearly $9 billion from Harvard federally funded, and has asked universities to ban diversity, equity and inclusive practices and to crack down on some pro-Palestinian groups and masks for protests.
Harvard rejected many Trump requests last month, saying they attacked free speech and academic freedom. More than $2 billion has been suspended in the Trump administration’s federal funding for educational institutions, while also pledging to deal with discrimination on campus.
Harvard University says government funding cuts will have serious consequences for patients, students, faculty, staff, staff in the lawsuit against the Trump administration [and] Researchers “while conducting dangerous critical medical and scientific research.
Harvard has a $53 billion U.S. endowment, the largest endowment of any university in the U.S., but funding is usually limited and used for things like financial aid and scholarships.
