Trump admin cuts $2.2B in Harvard funding after university defies demands
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Protesters urge Harvard not to make a deal with Trump during an April 12 rally. Photo: Erin Clark/The Boston Globe via Getty Images
Hours after Harvard University officials said they wouldn't roll over to the Trump administration's demands, an education task force announced it would freeze $2.2 billion in federal funds to the Ivy League institution.
Why it matters: The Trump administration's response to Harvard rejecting its litany of demands shows what may be in store for colleges under scrutiny for diversity, equity and inclusion practices and alleged antisemitism.
- Harvard is one of several elite universities whose federal research grants and other program funding are under review by the Trump administration.
- While that effort is officially about fighting antisemitism, university president Alan Garber wrote earlier Monday that the demands are really about imposing "direct governmental regulation" of higher education.
Driving the news: The university rejected the Trump administration's proposal to keep $9 billion in federal funds flowing, per Garber's letter to the Harvard community.
- University officials were responding to an April 11 letter from the Trump administration, requesting multiple audits over hiring, admissions and college practices.
- Following the letter's publication, the Trump administration's Joint Task Force to Combat Antisemitism said it would freeze the funds and up to $60 million in multi-year contracts.
What they're saying: "Harvard's statement today reinforces the troubling entitlement mindset that is endemic in our nation's most prestigious universities and colleges — that federal investment does not come with the responsibility to uphold civil rights laws," the task force said in a statement Monday night.
- When asked for comment on the Trump administration's action, Harvard referred Axios to Garber's letter, in particular the paragraph that states: "For the government to retreat from these partnerships now risks not only the health and well-being of millions of individuals, but also the economic security and vitality of our nation."
- The warning refers specifically to the potential consequences of pulling funding for research into diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, as well as critical technologies such as AI and quantum computing.
- The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
State of play: Several universities have been negotiating with the government to avoid funding cuts.
- Columbia University has complied with several of Trump's demands and is still negotiating an agreement that could give the government considerable influence over the university, per the NYT.
- Harvard is the most prominent example of a university outright rejecting the demands.
The intrigue: Garber's letter was amended after publication to change a line stating that Harvard "will not negotiate over its independence or constitutional rights" to Harvard "will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights."
- A Harvard spokesperson declined to comment on the record about the reason for the change.
- In a separate letter to Trump administration officials, lawyers representing Harvard said the university was "open to dialogue" but would not accede to demands that go beyond the government's "lawful authority."
Driving the news: Garber argued the administration's demands violated Harvard's First Amendment rights.
- "No government — regardless of which party is in power — should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue," he wrote.
Zoom in: The Trump administration's April 11 letter to Garber included a series of demands, including a third-party audit of each Harvard department for "viewpoint diversity."
- Other demands include ensuring hiring, promotion and admissions decisions are merit-based and not based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin; rejecting international applicants who are "hostile to American values"; getting a third-party audit of various Harvard schools for antisemitism; and submitting quarterly reports to the federal government through 2028 showing they're implementing the reforms listed in the letter.
- Cambridge officials and residents rallied Saturday, calling for Harvard to reject the federal government's demands, the Boston Globe reported.
Go deeper: Why Harvard's endowment won't save it from Trump
Editor's note: The headline and text of this article were edited to reflect the removal of the "will not negotiate" language from Garber's letter. The story has also been updated throughout with additional details and context.
